Pakistan eyes export growth, wider SME financing to boost economy

Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani said Pakistan should broaden exports, improve SME access to credit and lift productivity to support lasting economic growth. Speaking at a forum on economic security, he described exports as a durable source of foreign exchange and called for new products and markets, alongside stronger existing export businesses.

Mettis Global, citing APP, reported that fewer than 1,000 SMEs benefit from the Export Facilitation Scheme, compared with an estimated 10,000. Kayani said consultations with about 50 SME exporters identified financing, rather than energy costs, as their leading concern, and said the government was engaging banks on lending. He also cited recent tax relief, including removal of super tax for exporters, and said exporters now lead the Export Development Fund board, which includes 89 exporters. He called for stronger public-private policy engagement and coordination between federal and provincial development spending, which exceeds Rs4 trillion combined.