ISLAMABAD, Mar 6 (Alliance News): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to promoting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), emphasizing their role in economic growth.
Chairing the Steering Committee meeting of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), he directed the inclusion of micro-enterprises in the SME sector and the formulation of a comprehensive policy to support them.
The prime minister instructed SMEDA to hire skilled professionals through a transparent process, ensuring international standards in workforce recruitment with market-competitive salaries.
Highlighting the significance of professional training for the SME sector, he stressed the need for interest-free loans for rural communities, including women, to boost the rural economy.
He also ordered the merger of all federal professional training institutes into a single entity for better efficiency.
The meeting reviewed ongoing SMEDA reforms, including increased private sector representation on its board, workforce upskilling, and modernization efforts.
The Ministry of Commerce and SMEDA are collaborating to identify export-oriented companies, while a financial literacy program for SMEs has been launched.
Additionally, an export assistance initiative is set to enhance SME sector exports, and a legal framework for subcontracting is being prepared. SMEDA has conducted 28 training programs, benefiting 953 individuals.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahad Khan Cheema and Rana Tanvir Hussain, Special Assistant to the PM Haroon Akhtar, Chairman PM Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, and senior officials.
Members of the National Assembly Syeda Nousheen Iftikhar and Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha participated via video link.
