LAHORE: SME Bank is ready to provide all types of facilitation to the Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and proposals of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry would be welcomed in this regard.
This was stated by the President of SME Bank Ihsan-ul-Haq Khan while talking to the LCCI Acting President Amjad Ali Jawa and Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Former LCCI Senior Vice President Malik Tahir Javed, executive committee members Tahir Manzoor Chaudhry and Adnan Khalid Butt were also present on the occasion.
President SME Bank said that feedback from the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry could further improve the performance of SME bank. He said that SME Bank of Pakistan is supporting and developing the SME sector by providing necessary financial and technical assistance on a sustainable basis.
The LCCI acting President Amjad Ali Jawa said that SME Bank was established to grow Small and Medium Enterprises but it has been observed that the results are not as encouraging as these should be. He said that financial policy of the bank should be clear while borrowing process should be easy for the enterprises.
He said that SME Bank of Pakistan should enable the SMEs to contribute to economic development through value addition and exports and is also promoting entrepreneurship and creating employment opportunities.
Amjad Ali Jawa informed the Head of SME Bank that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry was the first chamber of the country who had opposed the privatization of SME Bank in the larger interest of the SME sector of Pakistan.
He said that Pakistan is a developing country where over 90% per cent industries and Small and Medium Enterprises. He said that these are not only backbone of the economy but are also help Large Scale Manufacturing Sector to play its due role. He said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry had proposed to the government that instead of selling SME Bank of Pakistan off, focus should be shifted to the SME sector of Pakistan as these are considered the engine of economic growth in both developed and developing countries.
“It should be main objective of the SME Bank to fulfill its responsibilities in a good manner and support Small & Medium Sectors (SMEs) of Pakistan through facilitation measures”, the LCCI Acting President added.
The LCCI acting President urged the SME Bank to provide loans to the Small and Medium Enterprises on ease condition and just on merit without any discrimination.
He said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry has established a Facilitation Desk where representatives of SMEDA and Federal Board of Revenue provide necessary information to the LCCI members. He said that SME Bank of Pakistan should also nominate representatives for this facilitation desk that would not only helpful for the LCCI members would also help SME Bank to find out new clients.
The LCCI Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan also spoke highly about the Small and Medium Enterprises of Pakistan and called for public-private partnership to achieve the desired results in shortest possible time.
