-Hails positive trajectory of all economic indicators
-Highlights the importance of SMEs’ promotion
-Instructs for accomplishment of the targets set for SMEs’ uplift
By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday said that country’s all economic indicators were on positive trajectory and promotion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) was a must to bring further improvement.
Chairing a meeting of National Coordination Committee on SMEs, the prime minister instructed the authorities concerned for accomplishment of the targets set for SMEs’ uplift.
Federal ministers Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Hammad Azhar, SAPM Usman Dar, Board of Investment chairman, federal secretaries of industries, commerce, finance, energy, petroleum and law, Chairman of Federal Board of Revenue, deputy governor of State Bank, Commissioner Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, CEO SMEDA, managing director of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority and senior officers attended the meeting.
The chief secretary Sindh, and secretaries of industries from Gilgit Baltistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Baochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir and CEO of Trade Development Authority participated through video link. The prime minister said that the SMEs were key component of the economy and their empowerment would help strengthen the economic outlook and create employment opportunities.
The meeting was told that the government was in consultation with all the stakeholders to extend financial support to SMEs for which a special fund would also be created. It was also told that targets had been set to address legal, administrative and regulatory issues for betterment of SMEs sector. Moreover, the restructuring of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) was also being done to facilitate the business sector.
The meeting was told that the working groups had been created in the provinces and SMEs’ database was being updated on priority for their timely facilitation.
Meanwhile, a high level delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) called on Prime Minister Imran Khan and discussed issues of mutual interest. The MQM delegation was comprised of Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Ameen ul Haq and Haider Abbas Rizvi, according to sources.
Federal Ministers Asad Umar, Ali Zaidi and Governor of Sindh Imran Ismail also attended the meeting. The session of the coalition partners discussed overall political situation of Sindh, Karachi package and other concerned matters, sources said. The MQM delegation also presented the party’s reservations to the prime minister in the meeting, according to sources. The delegation leaders raised issues of missing party workers, return of the party offices and delay in development works during the meeting, sources added.
The delegation asked the prime minister to play his role for the constitutional right of an independent politics and return of the party offices to MQM. They also urged the prime minister to take notice of the disappeared party workers and false FIRs against the party.
According to sources, Prime Minister Imran Khan assured coalition partners that their all reservations will be addressed and the party will also be kept in the loop in consultations over Karachi projects. The prime minister also said that the interior minister will look into the issues of missing party workers and FIRs adding that the ministry will act over the matter according to the constitution and the law, sources at the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Also, Governor of Sindh Imran Ismail Thursday called on Prime Minister Imran Khan and apprised him of COVID-19 situation in Sindh province besides Green Line and Red Line projects. The Sindh governor also invited the prime minister to visit the province which he accepted, a PM Office press release said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday said that as the provision of houses to poor and middle class segments was among the priorities of the present government, housing projects were being launched across the country. He said this while inaugurating the over Rs 14.067 billion housing scheme of Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA) here at Jalozai Cherat Road that would be equipped with all basic facilities.
The prime minister on this occasion also distributed the ownership documents among the recipients of flats.
He was given a detailed briefing about the project by the Provincial Housing Authority officials. The prime minister was told that the housing project consisted of 8,631 plots including 5, 7, 10 and 20 Marlas and government employees as well as general public could get the plots. He was told that the project will have basic facilities including schools, parks, hospital, mosques, water, gas, electricity, sewerage etc.
The prime minister was informed that housing projects will also be launched in other cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Peshawar, Mardan, Swat, Charsadda and Hangu. He was further told that a total of 30,788 housing units would be completed within the next six months.
