Key Takeaways
- SME financing reached Rs1.067 trillion by August 2026, serving 323,987 borrowers.
- Agriculture financing stood at Rs1.268 trillion, covering 3.39 million borrowers.
- Housing finance under the Ghar Ho To Apna programme had Rs351.3 billion approved as of September 4.
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, chaired the fourth meeting of the Access to Finance Steering Committee, focusing on progress in financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), agriculture, and housing.
By the end of August 2026, SME financing had reached Rs1.067 trillion, serving 323,987 borrowers and accounting for 9.90% of domestic private advances. The government aims to expand this to Rs2 trillion and increase the number of borrowers to 775,000 by June 2028, raising its share to 13%.
Aurangzeb stressed the need to maintain momentum towards these targets and called for a clear bank-wise plan to strengthen SME credit growth. He also welcomed progress on the wholesale SME financing framework, aimed at broadening outreach and increasing the number of businesses with access to formal financing.
In agriculture financing, Rs1.268 trillion had been disbursed by the end of August 2026, covering more than 3.39 million borrowers and accounting for 10.90% of domestic private advances. The medium-term target is to increase agriculture financing to Rs2 trillion and expand the borrower base to 5.5 million by June 2028.
Under the Zarkhez-e-Asaan Zarai Qarza programme, aimed at providing uncollateralised financing to smallholder and tenant farmers, 58,919 farmers had registered and 35,838 applications had been received. A total of 16,964 loans worth Rs7.349 billion had been approved, while 5,174 loans amounting to Rs1.956 billion had been disbursed.
On housing finance, the committee reviewed progress under the Wazir-e-Azam Apna Ghar Programme – Ghar Ho To Apna. As of September 4, approved housing finance under the programme had reached Rs351.3 billion, up Rs38.3 billion, or 12%, from the end of August. The programme had received 156,813 applications, with 60,349 loans worth Rs351.3 billion approved. Of these, 9,717 loans amounting to Rs51.13 billion had been disbursed.
The finance minister stressed the need to accelerate the conversion of approved cases into actual disbursements and make affordable mortgage financing simpler and more accessible.
The committee also reviewed the Pakistan Accelerated Vehicle Electrification (PAVE) Programme, which had recorded 17,118 approved applications involving Rs2.581 billion. A total of 4,228 loans worth Rs804 million had been disbursed, while 1,860 electric bikes had been delivered so far. Aurangzeb said the focus should now be on accelerating the delivery of electric bikes to beneficiaries whose financing had already been approved and disbursed.
SMEDA, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority, plans to conduct 560 financial literacy training programmes across Pakistan, with around 100 already completed. Aurangzeb said expanding access to finance required coordinated action across the financial ecosystem, along with measures to improve the capacity and bankability of SMEs and other underserved segments.
