Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has announced the establishment of a dedicated SME Finance Task Force to expand access to finance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Speaking at Pakistan Banking Summit 2026 in Karachi, he called for an industry-wide effort to increase private sector lending and outlined the Government's broader agenda for banking sector reforms and sustainable economic growth.
The Task Force will be led by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) with senior representation from the Pakistan Banks' Association (PBA), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), chambers of commerce and industry, and the Ministry of Finance. It will recommend practical measures to improve SME financing and broaden access to credit across the banking industry.
Emphasizing the banking sector's role in driving economic growth, the Finance Minister said increased lending to SMEs, exporters, agriculture, manufacturing, construction, housing and the information technology sector is a mission critical for achieving sustainable economic growth.
He stressed that access to finance for SMEs must become an industry-wide effort rather than the responsibility of only a few institutions.
Highlighting Pakistan's improving macroeconomic outlook, Muhammad Aurangzeb noted that the economy had concluded the last fiscal year on a strong footing, supported by a primary surplus, the lowest fiscal deficit in recent years, improved debt indicators, sustained current account performance, record remittance inflows, growing foreign exchange reserves, and renewed access to international capital markets through successful sovereign debt issuances, including Pakistan's inaugural Panda Bond.
He said government remained committed to translating macroeconomic stability into sustainable, export-led growth through structural reforms and policy consistency. He further reaffirmed the Government's commitment to introducing a Medium-Term Tax Strategy to provide greater certainty and predictability for businesses.
