Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Finance Ministry to take action against banks delaying loans to farmers, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and beneficiaries of the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar housing scheme.
He issued the directions while chairing a review meeting in Islamabad on improving access to financing for priority sectors.
The prime minister said expanding credit facilities for agriculture, SMEs and housing was essential for economic growth and job creation. He also praised banks performing well under government financing initiatives and urged other financial institutions to improve their lending services.
Shehbaz Sharif directed the finance minister to address financing-related challenges faced by businesses, farmers and housing scheme applicants. The SBP and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) were also asked to resolve tax-related issues affecting SMEs and exporters and develop a risk coverage strategy to support SME lending.
During the meeting, officials briefed the prime minister on the SBP’s efforts to expand financing through regulatory reforms, risk-sharing arrangements and digital services.
The SBP has also launched the SME Connect digital portal, allowing businesses to apply for loans and track their application status online.
According to the briefing, as of October 23, 2026, loans worth Rs. 511 billion had been approved under the Apna Ghar Program, covering 86,899 applications. Disbursements reached Rs. 91 billion for 15,584 applicants.
Meanwhile, total housing finance stood at Rs. 455 billion, benefiting 187,317 borrowers. Agricultural lending reached Rs. 1,329 billion, supporting around 3.5 million people, while SME financing amounted to Rs. 1,148 billion for 342,458 businesses.
The government has set a target to increase lending to both agriculture and SME sectors to Rs. 1,500 billion by the end of fiscal year 2027.
