ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed relevant institutions to expedite measures to provide loans to small and medium-sized businesses on concessional terms through banks and other financial institutions.
Chairing a meeting regarding the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) at the Prime Minister’s House on Monday, the Prime Minister congratulated Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar and the newly elected Smeda Board for formulating a practical and effective plan.
“Small and medium enterprises constitute 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.”
A three-year roadmap for the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises was presented at the meeting, in addition to a detailed presentation on the problems encountered by SMEs and the action plan to resolve 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 condolences on the death of Begum Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The Prime Minister offered condolences to the Bangladesh charge d’affaires, 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 a prominent 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 APPLICATION)
