Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb urges banks and implementing agencies to accelerate loan disbursements as financing expands across small businesses, farmers, housing and electric vehicles.
ISLAMABAD, October 28, 2026: Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb has called for faster implementation of financing reforms to ensure businesses, farmers and underserved communities benefit from affordable credit, stressing the need for stronger risk-sharing arrangements and timely loan disbursements.
Chairing the sixth meeting of the Access to Finance (A2F) Steering Committee on Wednesday, the minister reviewed progress in financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), agriculture, exports, housing and electric mobility under government-backed initiatives.
READ MORE: SBP introduces new financing framework for small businesses and farmers
The committee emphasised that improved access to finance was essential for economic inclusion, entrepreneurship, job creation and poverty reduction.
SME and agriculture financing
Outstanding SME financing reached Rs1.148 trillion as of October 23, 2026, including Rs538 billion for small enterprises. The committee reviewed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority’s (SMEDA) capacity-building roadmap, focusing on financial literacy, accounting support, documentation and digital tools to improve businesses’ access to formal credit.
Agriculture financing stood at Rs1.329 trillion, serving approximately 3.5 million borrowers.
Under the Zarkhez-e: Asaan Zarai Qarza Scheme, 20,176 loan applications worth Rs8.674 billion had been approved. A further 6,132 collateral-free loans valued at approximately Rs2.34 billion had been disbursed to smallholder farmers.
The committee also discussed expanding livestock and dairy financing and encouraging private-sector investment in agricultural value chains.
Housing and electric vehicle loans
Outstanding housing finance reached Rs455 billion, covering 241,500 borrowers.
Under the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Programme, 86,896 applications involving Rs511 billion in financing had been approved, while 15,584 loans worth approximately Rs91 billion had been disbursed.
The committee called for faster disbursements and measures to address housing supply constraints, including financing for builders, developers and projects under construction.
Under the Pakistan Accelerated Vehicle Electrification (PAVE) Scheme, 21,918 applications involving around Rs3.06 billion had been approved. Some 5,506 loans worth Rs1.093 billion had been disbursed, and 3,263 electric vehicles had been delivered to customers.
Digital lending and reforms
The committee reviewed digital initiatives, including pilot projects for SME credit scoring and exporter financing. It also stressed secure, consent-based data sharing, confidentiality safeguards and the resolution of technical barriers affecting lending.
Aurangzeb welcomed progress in housing finance but urged financial institutions and implementing agencies to intensify efforts in SME and agriculture financing.
He said financing reforms must deliver tangible benefits through stronger execution, effective risk-sharing and faster disbursements.
Senior officials from the Finance Division, State Bank of Pakistan, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, housing and agriculture ministries, Karandaaz Pakistan and SMEDA attended the meeting.