--- title: "PM Directs SMEDA to Expand Support and Financing for SMEs" description: "Most outlets reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed SMEDA to formulate a comprehensive strategy for financial support and technical assistance for small and medium enterprises. Several also noted the emphasis on expanding market access and increasing women’s participation in SMEs. While the core directive was widely covered, some outlets, like the Express Tribune and Pakistan Today, led with the mention of market access and women’s inclusion, whereas others, like the Associated Press of Pakistan and Business Recorder, focused more narrowly on financial strategy formulation. ProPakistani led with the directive for more financial support but provided less detail on specific areas of focus." url: https://harzaviya.com/stories/8777-pm-directs-smeda-to-formulate-comprehensive-strategy site: HarZaviya language: en --- # PM Directs SMEDA to Expand Support and Financing for SMEs business · updated 17 Sep 2026, 7:23 AM PKT · 16–17 Sep 2026 · 9 articles from 8 outlets over 2 developments **HarZaviya summary** — how 8 outlets covered this, generated automatically from their headlines and excerpts: > Most outlets reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed SMEDA to formulate a comprehensive strategy or plan for expanding financial support to small and medium enterprises. Several also noted the emphasis on improving technical assistance and market access. A few, including Express Tribune and Associated Press of Pakistan, specifically highlighted the expansion of support for women entrepreneurs. While the core directive was widely covered, the framing varied slightly, with some outlets leading with the financial aspect and others adding details about technical capacity or gender inclusion. ## How it developed Newest development first. Each carries its own coverage and, where we have one, our summary of it. ### 17 Sep 2026 — PM Shehbaz orders small and medium enterprises support strategy (1 outlet) - **Dawn** — [PM Shehbaz orders small and medium enterprises support strategy](https://www.dawn.com/news/2030487/pm-shehbaz-orders-small-and-medium-enterprises-support-strategy) · 17 Sep 2026, 7:23 AM PKT > ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) to develop a comprehensive strategy to provide financial support to SMEs and entrepreneurs, aiming to boost their capacity and expand their access to global markets. While chairing a meeting on the matter, the prime minister directed that promoting entrepreneurship and e... ### 16 Sep 2026 — PM Directs SMEDA to Expand Support and Financing for SMEs (7 outlets) > Most outlets reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed SMEDA to formulate a comprehensive strategy for financial support and technical assistance for small and medium enterprises. Several also noted the emphasis on expanding market access and increasing women’s participation in SMEs. While the core directive was widely covered, some outlets, like the Express Tribune and Pakistan Today, led with the mention of market access and women’s inclusion, whereas others, like the Associated Press of Pakistan and Business Recorder, focused more narrowly on financial strategy formulation. ProPakistani led with the directive for more financial support but provided less detail on specific areas of focus. - **Pakistan Today** — [PM directs SMEDA to expand financial support, global market access for SMEs](https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/09/16/pm-directs-smeda-to-expand-financial-support-global-market-access-for-smes) · 16 Sep 2026, 11:56 PM PKT > Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directs SMEDA to formulate a comprehensive strategy for financial assistance, technical support and global market access for SMEs and entrepreneurs, with focus on women’s participation, digital platforms, exports and stronger production and commercial linkages. - **24 News HD** — [PM directs SMEDA to formulate strategy for financial support to small industries](https://www.24newshd.tv/16-Sep-2026/pm-directs-smeda-formulate-strategy-financial-support-small-industries) · 16 Sep 2026, 4:21 PM PKT · 87% identical wording to the newest filing > Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to formulate a comprehensive strategy for providing financial support to small and medium-sized industries and entrepreneurs across the country. - **ProPakistani** — [PM Shehbaz Orders More Financial Support for Small Businesses](https://propakistani.pk/2026/09/16/pm-shehbaz-orders-more-financial-support-for-small-businesses/) · 16 Sep 2026, 3:58 PM PKT · 77% identical wording to the newest filing > Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to provide more financial support… Read More - **Business Recorder** — [PM directs SMEDA to formulate comprehensive strategy](https://www.brecorder.com/news/40439761/pm-directs-smeda-to-formulate-comprehensive-strategy) · 16 Sep 2026, 1:16 PM PKT · 87% identical wording to the newest filing > Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to formulate a comprehensive strategy for financial assistance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and businesspersons across the country. A review meeting on the initiatives of the SMEDA for financial assistance to SMEs and businesspersons was held today in Islamabad under the chairmans... - **Associated Press of Pakistan** — [PM directs SMEDA to formulate comprehensive strategy for financial support of SMEs](https://www.app.com.pk/national/pm-directs-smeda-to-formulate-comprehensive-strategy-for-financial-support-of-smes/) · 16 Sep 2026, 1:04 PM PKT · 90% identical wording to the newest filing > The prime minister directed that the ongoing SMEDA programme aimed at ensuring greater participation of women in small and medium-sized industries and businesses should be further expanded. - **BOL News** — [PM Shehbaz Sharif orders SMEDA to draft comprehensive plan for SME financing](https://bolnews.com/pakistan/pm-shehbaz-sharif-orders-smeda-to-draft-comprehensive-plan-for-sme-financing) · 16 Sep 2026, 1:02 PM PKT · 84% identical wording to the newest filing > The prime minister emphasized that equal attention be given to financial support for entrepreneurs, enhancing technical capacity and providing facilities. - **The Express Tribune** — [PM Shehbaz directs SMEDA to expand support, market access for SMEs](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2629642/pm-shehbaz-directs-smeda-to-expand-support-market-access-for-smes) · 16 Sep 2026, 10:17 AM PKT · 85% identical wording to the newest filing > Authority told to improve financing, technical assistance while expanding support for women entrepreneurs ## Part of a bigger story Other stories whose coverage resembles this one, nearest first. "% related" compares whole stories, not single articles — see [what the percentages mean](https://harzaviya.com/methodology). - [Pakistan aims to double SME financing to Rs2.2 trillion by 2028](https://harzaviya.com/stories/13865-pm-shehbaz-directs-increase-in-sme-loans-to-rs2-2-trillion) · 13 Oct 2026 · 7 outlets · 83% related - [SMEDA increases engagement with women chambers of commerce](https://harzaviya.com/stories/10464-smeda-expands-engagement-with-women-chambers-to-pr) · 25 Sep 2026 · 3 outlets · 78% related - [SMEDA and PMYP sign MoU to support youth and MSMEs](https://harzaviya.com/stories/7715-smeda-pmyp-team-up-to-boost-young-entrepreneurs) · 12 Sep 2026 · 5 outlets · 2 developments · 77% related - [PM Shehbaz directs banks to increase lending to farmers, SMEs, and housing sector](https://harzaviya.com/stories/7430-pm-directs-survey-of-properties-for-loans-under-apna-ghar) · 11 Sep 2026 · 16 outlets · 3 developments · 77% related - [Shehbaz orders roadmap for private equity fund to boost investment](https://harzaviya.com/stories/1618-pm-orders-roadmap-for-private-equity-fund-to-boost) · 4 Aug 2026 · 5 outlets · 77% related 9 articles from 8 outlets, 16–17 Sep 2026. 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