LAHORE: Prominent practitioners and stakeholders of the SME sector of the country have urged the government to address issues pertaining to the serious decline of the SME sector in Pakistan, considering its bleak performance in the current fiscal year. The concerns were raised at the 9th Pakistan SME Forum 2015.
Dr. Saeed Ahmad, Deputy Director, State Bank of Pakistan while addressing the inaugural session said, “The central bank is considering giving indicative targets to the banks, review their performance against the targets after a certain period, and may consider formulation of regulation to impose mandatory targets if it does not receive favorable results.”
In his opening remarks, Menin Rodrigues, chairman, Shamrock Conferences International said “the intervention of the ministries of industries, commerce, agriculture and finance, in revitalizing the SME sector through prudent steps is necessary; in as much the support of the State Bank of Pakistan, SMEDA and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan for a sustained and collaborative effort to uplift the SME sector.” A comprehensive countrywide registration of SMEs is of vital importance, he added.
