Key Takeaways
- Outstanding SME loans reached Rs1.137 trillion in the July-September quarter of 2026-27.
- The number of SME borrowers increased by over 25,000 to 350,862.
- Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb emphasized the need for improved data availability and information-sharing.
The government reported that outstanding SME loans surged to Rs1.137 trillion in the July-September quarter of 2026-27, marking a significant increase from the previous quarter.
This growth was accompanied by a rise in the number of SME borrowers, which increased by over 25,000 to 350,862, highlighting the sector's expanding reach and support.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb highlighted the importance of improving data availability and information-sharing to support responsible lending and better risk assessment during the fifth meeting of the Access to Finance Steering Committee.
Aurangzeb stressed the need to use data with appropriate safeguards and clear purpose limitations, ensuring that financial institutions have access to the necessary information to assess borrowers and expand cash-flow-based lending.
The minister directed that the committee’s focus should increasingly remain on implementation, measurable outcomes, and follow-up actions, with systematic tracking of progress on sub-committees’ decisions and recommendations.
The government aims to expand SME financing to Rs2 trillion and increase the number of borrowers to 775,000 by June 30, 2028, through an ecosystem-wide approach involving commercial banks, microfinance institutions, and other financial service providers.
The minister called for further acceleration to stay aligned with the government’s medium-term objective, underscoring the commitment to support small and medium-sized enterprises in Pakistan.
The Access to Finance Steering Committee’s efforts are crucial in addressing data gaps and improving the overall lending environment for SMEs, which are vital for economic growth and job creation.
