Punjab Chief Minister(CM),Maryam Nawaz Sharif said on Saturday that the Punjab government was committed to promoting entrepreneurship, expanding market access and facilitating business growth across Punjab.
She added that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were the backbone of the economy.
In her message on the World Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day, the CM said the observance aims to highlight the importance of micro, small and medium enterprises and bring greater government attention to the sector.
She said Punjab offers immense opportunities for the growth of SMEs and assured that the provincial government would provide every possible support to help entrepreneur’s access international markets.
CM Maryam Nawaz said the Punjab government was extending financial assistance to SMEs through the Asaan Karobar Finance scheme and the Asaan Karobar Card. She added that the initiatives had encouraged greater investment, particularly in the transport and wholesale sectors.
The CM said the government was promoting SMEs in livestock, agriculture, handicrafts, garments and other productive sectors, stressing that investment in small businesses was essential for economic stability and sustainable prosperity. She said the day also reaffirmed the government’s resolve to encourage innovation and strengthen entrepreneurship, adding that creating a business-friendly environment remained one of the Punjab government’s top priorities.
CM Maryam Nawaz said that SMEs generate employment opportunities and contribute significantly to public prosperity. She said the provincial budget had provided relief to the SME sector by avoiding new taxes, while the prevailing law and order situation in Punjab had created a favorable environment for business activities. She added the government was addressing the challenges faced by small industries by providing all possible resources and emphasised the need to strengthen logistics support, technological advancement and market access for medium-sized enterprises to accelerate economic growth.