PM terms export-led growth as govt’s foremost priority

Directs easing credit for SMEs, small farmers to boost economic inclusion

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the relevant authorities to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for increasing exports, particularly agricultural exports, reducing country’s trade deficit.
He was chairing a review meeting on the promotion of national exports in Islamabad Wednesday.
Shehbaz Sharif said achieving export-led development targets is the government’s top priority. He instructed that a coordinated strategy should be formulated in collaboration with the Rice Exporters Association to further enhance rice exports.
The Prime Minister also emphasized the need to expedite institutional reforms aimed at boosting exports and providing maximum facilitation to exporters. He categorically stated that no negligence would be tolerated in the timely payment of tax refunds to exporters.
The meeting was briefed on the government’s overall export promotion strategy and presented trade figures from July to December last year.
It was informed about ongoing efforts to increase exports from high-value sectors including engineering, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and processed food. It was further shared that work is underway to integrate Pakistan’s exports into the global value chain. It was also highlighted that improvements are being made in ports and logistics systems across the country to facilitate exporters.
The meeting was informed that negotiations are in progress with several countries for government-to-government agreements related to rice exports.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the State Bank of Pakistan and commercial banks to further simplify and expand credit mechanisms for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), new businesses and small farmers amid terming improved access to finance a top government priority for economic growth and inclusion.
The prime minister made these remarks while chairing a high-level review meeting on facilitation of loans for SMEs, small farmers here, a Prime Minister’s Office news release said.
PM Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that priority financing should be ensured for service providers to promote innovation in the agriculture sector. He also instructed that modern technology and machinery loans for SMEs and small farmers be made more accessible to enhance productivity and competitiveness.
The prime minister directed his Special Assistant on Industries and Production, HaroonAkhtar, along with the SMEDA team, to undertake visits to all provinces, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and work closely with provincial governments to formulate a comprehensive, coordinated SME facilitation policy.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that SMEs constitute the backbone of economies and industries in developed countries and stressed the need to replicate such models in Pakistan. He also directed that youth should be provided entrepreneurship training to encourage new business startups and expand economic activity.
The prime minister also added that he would personally chair and regularly monitor progress in this area. He announced that a sub-committee would be constituted soon to develop actionable recommendations for further simplifying credit access for the private sector particularly SMEs and agriculture to accelerate business activity and economic growth in the country.
The officials briefed the meeting on trends in private sector lending over recent years, including loans for business expansion, machinery and modern technology. It was informed that compared to 2021–22, bank lending to the private sector had improved significantly by December 2025, with the number of borrowers doubling to over 303,000 and total credit volume reaching Rs1.1 trillion.
The meeting was also told that an estimated three million farmers benefited from agricultural credit during the current year, compared to 2.8 million last year. Banks are prioritizing loans for new businesses and modern machinery, while agricultural financing now covers crops, modern equipment, livestock and fisheries.
The SMEDA officials informed the meeting that it would soon launch a program to enhance financial literacy and awareness among SMEs. Participants were also briefed on Punjab’s program providing loans to service providers for supplying modern agricultural machinery, and the State Bank’s fully digital “Zarkhez-e App,” launched to facilitate small farmers, which is benefiting a large number of users. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister of State Bilal AzharKiyani, SAPM HaroonAkhtar, State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad, senior federal officials, and chief secretaries of all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Staff Report