ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed banks and financial institutions to expand lending to farmers, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the housing sector.
He issued the directions while chairing a meeting on access to finance for agriculture, housing and SMEs in Islamabad.
PM Urges Banks to Support Key Economic Sectors
Shehbaz Sharif said the government would encourage banks that proactively expand access to credit.
He described agriculture as the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and called its development a national responsibility.
The prime minister directed authorities to ensure that farmers receive uninterrupted access to financial resources on easy and affordable terms.
Government Prioritises Affordable Housing
Shehbaz Sharif also highlighted affordable housing for low-income and middle-class families as a government priority.
He directed provincial chief secretaries to conduct a comprehensive survey of properties that banks could finance under the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Scheme.
The survey aims to identify properties that meet the requirements for home loans and help aspiring homeowners access financing.
Apna Ghar Scheme Receives Over 147,000 Applications
Officials informed the meeting that the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Scheme has received 147,504 applications so far.
Of these, banks have approved 53,127 applications.
The total value of approved applications has reached Rs313.42 billion. Banks have also disbursed Rs45.43 billion in loans to 8,739 applicants.
Officials said authorities are developing a system to identify plots across Pakistan that meet mortgage requirements. They will launch the pilot project in Islamabad.
SME Lending Target Set at Rs2 Trillion
The meeting also reviewed financing for Pakistan’s SME sector.
Bank lending to SMEs stood at Rs1.067 trillion as of August this year.
Meanwhile, the Access to Finance Plan 2026–28 has set a target of Rs2 trillion by June 2028.
The government aims to expand financing for SMEs while improving access to credit for farmers and potential homeowners.
