ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed relevant institutions to expedite measures to provide loans to small and medium enterprises on concessional terms through banks and other financial institutions.
Chairing a meeting on the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) in the Prime Minister’s House on Monday, the prime minister praised special assistant Haroon Akhtar and the newly elected Smeda board for formulating a practical and effective plan.
“Small and medium enterprises are the backbone of the country’s economy,” the prime minister said, adding that “there is immense potential to increase the country’s exports through the development of small and medium enterprises.”
The meeting presented a three-year roadmap for the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as detailed information on the problems faced by SMEs and the action plan to address them; the strategy to include SMEs in the country’s exports, and other measures included in the business plan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also visited the Bangladesh High Commission to express his condolences on the demise of Begum Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The Prime Minister conveyed his condolences to the Chargé d’Affaires of Bangladesh, signed a message in the condolence book and also offered Fateha for the soul of the deceased.
In his condolence message, he paid rich tribute to Zia, describing her as a visionary leader and eminent political figure who dedicated her life to public service.
Remembering the late leader as a sincere friend of Pakistan, the prime minister noted that she had left behind a lasting and inspiring legacy.
(WITH INPUT FROM THE APP)
