ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed to set targets for promotion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), after he was informed that tax form was being made easy and work on registration portal is in progress for the business promotion especially SMEs. The prime minister was chairing a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on SMEs here on Thursday.

The prime minister further directed that targets for promotion of the SMEs should be completed as early as possible, adding that can bring about stability in the economy and provide employment opportunities.

The SMEs would improve further macroeconomic indicators which are already in a positive direction.

The meeting was informed that consultation process was in progress with all the stakeholders to provide financial support to the SMEs, and in this context, SMEs fund was being established.

The meeting was further informed that for the promotion of SMEs, targets have been set to resolve the legal, administrative, and regulatory problems. To increase the capacity of SMEDA, it was being restructured to help the business community. The meeting was attended by the Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar, chairman Investment Board, secretary industries, commerce, finance, petroleum and law division, chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), governor State Bank of Pakistan, commissioner Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, CEO SMEDA, MD Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, and other officials. Chief Secretary Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Punjab, KP, Balochistan, AJ&K secretary Industries and Trade development Authority, attended the meeting through video link.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020