Govt working to remove bottlenecks in SME access to finance

The government is preparing measures to ease small and medium enterprises’ access to funding, including a lending facility for exporters seeking machinery and equipment. Finance Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani described the initiative at an Islamabad conference arranged by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Mettis Global reported on November 5, 2026.

The facility offers loans at 2% interest for the first two years, followed by a 5% rate over the next eight years. Kayani also pointed to the Export Facilitation Scheme, which lets exporters bring in inputs without paying duties. He said stronger exports are important to more inclusive, sustainable growth and to reducing boom-and-bust cycles.