{
  "id": 15073445,
  "title": "Efforts under way to increase SME financing: Ihsaan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/efforts-under-way-to-increase-sme-financing-ihsaan",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-16T23:52:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40444580/efforts-under-way-to-increase-sme-financing-ihsaan"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prime Minister’s Commerce and Industries Coordinator Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan announced plans to increase Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) financing from Rs1 trillion to Rs2 trillion. During the 39th Annual General Meeting and International Conference of the Pakistan Society of Development Economists (PSDE), Khan emphasized Pakistan's shift towards an export-driven economy to tackle economic challenges and foster sustainable growth. The Prime Minister's approval of a Trade Facilitation Board aimed to enhance coordination among government bodies, streamline export logistics, and cut port-related expenses. Key drivers of export diversification included ICT, artificial intelligence, agriculture, minerals, and the blue economy. The conference identified six reform priorities, such as tariff reform, strategic free trade agreements, and enhancing investor protection through better foreign exchange reserves and regulatory simplification. PIDE highlighted that policy consistency, public trust, trade-specific expertise, dependable energy, and predictable tax and customs systems were crucial for continued investment. Experts discussed digital trade, port digitalization, sustainable fisheries, Blue Bonds, and overseas labor mobility, linking tourism growth to robust institutions and the rule of law. Dr Faheem Jehangir, PIDE Dean and PSDE Secretary, stressed the need to transition from scarcity management to wealth creation through productivity and innovation. The conference's recommendations would be presented to policymakers and stakeholders to establish a conducive environment for Pakistan to reach a $100 billion export target by 2035.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Commerce and Industries Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan has said that efforts were underway to increase Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) financing from Rs1 trillion to Rs2 trillion, while exporters were being supported through concessional financing arrangements involving EXIM Bank and commercial banks. Addressing the closing ceremony of the 39th Annual General…",
  "key_points": [
    "Prime Minister aims to raise SME financing from Rs1 trillion to Rs2 trillion.",
    "Trade Facilitation Board to streamline export logistics and reduce port costs.",
    "Conference identified six reform priorities for export diversification."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Doubling SME financing and streamlining export logistics signals a fundamental shift toward a productivity-led model designed to transform Pakistan from a scarcity-managed economy into a global export powerhouse.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}