Haroon vows full support to KP SMEs

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production (SAPM) Haroon Akhtar Khan has assured the representatives of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) clusters from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) of the federal government’s all-out support for the uplift of the SMEs in the province.

Talking to a delegation of SME entrepreneurs, the SAPM said that the government wanted to strengthen the SMEs sector across the country as it generates employment, leads to export growth, reduces poverty, and stops internal migration.

He said that the government was committed to empowering SMEs through technology and innovation, with a special focus on women entrepreneurs, as women constitute over 50 percent of the population and their contribution is a key to economic growth.

“SMEs represent the driving force of global economies, and Pakistan is no exception, with 90 percent of its workforce employed by SMEs, contributing 40 percent to the GDP,” said Haroon Akhtar Khan.

Apart from others, the meeting was also attended by Acting CEO SMEDA Nadia, Additional Secretary for Industries and Production, and the Director General to the SAPM. The SAPM highlighted that Pakistan is playing a leading role in promoting SME cooperation among D-8 countries.

During the meeting, Khan shared the vision of the federal government for Micro, Small, and MSMEs, saying that the Prime Minister envisions aligning SMEs with modern technology to enhance productivity and competitiveness.

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif believes that small businesses are the backbone of economic growth, employment generation, and export promotion,” said Haroon Akhtar Khan. He further emphasized that the Prime Minister is committed to empowering women through entrepreneurship and skill development to achieve inclusive economic progress.

Khan noted that no country can achieve sustainable economic development without strengthening its small and medium enterprises. He assured that the government is facilitating SMEs through banks and collaborating with international consultants to introduce best practices.

During the meeting, SMEDA informed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with Mobilink, enabling online bank registration through smartphones for SMEs.

The SME representatives appreciated the Ministry of Industries and Production’s efforts and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan for their initiatives to uplift the SME sector.

Representatives from the SME clusters emphasized the need for government support for the furniture sector in KP and pointed out the immense export potential of the province’s honey industry. Haroon Akhtar Khan assured that SMEDA will extend facilitation for honey production and packaging improvements.