The proposed National Policy on Small and Medium Enterprises 2020 was presented to Prime Minister Imran Khan here on Thursday, aimed at promotion of the sector across the country. The Prime Minister, who chaired a meeting of National Coordination Committee for SMEs, was given a detailed briefing on the salient features of the proposed policy. He directed the Minister for Industries to finalize the roadmap based on timelines for implementation of the proposed SME policy in consultation with provinces at the earliest. Prime Minister Imran Khan stressed upon the federal departments and provincial governments to pay special attention to the development of SMEs. He said the government was committed to extend all possible facilities to SMEs including simplification of rules and regulations, provision of credit, facilitation of tax system and facilitation of business. The Prime Minister said providing job opportunities to youth, increasing exports and wealth creation was the top priority of the government. Development of SMEs played a key role in achieving these three targets, he added. He said during the last 10 years, SMEs were completely neglected that left a negative impact on national economy. The meeting was attended by Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar, Adviser Dr Ishrat Hussain, federal secretaries and other senior officials. The Governor State Bank of Pakistan and the Provincial Chief Secretary attended the meeting through video-link. Work on Mohmand, Diamer Basha, Kurram Tangi, Nai Gaj dams: As many as four dams projects of Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) including Mohmand, Diamer Basha, Kurram Tangi and Nai Gaj dams were under implementation stage. The multi-purpose projects have been launched to enhance water storage capacity and stoppage of water wastes besides generation low cost hydel electricity. The sources told APP here that the projects would not only store 8.13 million acre feet (MAF) water but also help generate 5,383.4 MW low cost environment friendly energy. Share details of the projects, they said Mohmand dam was being built on Swat River (Mohmand), Diamer Basha dam on Indus River near Chilas, Kurram Tangi dam on Kurram River in North Waziristan and Nai Gaj dam on Gaj River (Dadu). Similarly, they said 14 dams projects had alreay been completed so far and they projects were included Tarbela, Mangla, Hub, Khanpur, Mirani, Satoara, Gomal Zam, Darawat, Baran, Rawal, Tanda, Simly and Sabakzai dams and Chashma Barrage. Moreover, they said nine more dams projects were under planning stage and they were included Hingol, Shyok, Chiniot, Murunji, Tank, Bara, Bhimber, Daraban Zam and Akhori dams and Sindh Barrage. Pak-Kenya trade ties: Leader of the House in the Senate, Senator Dr. Shahzad Wasim Thursday said that Pakistan considered Kenya an important country and desired to further enhance mutual cooperation in diverse sectors. He expressed these views in a meeting with High Commissioner of Kenya Professor Julius Kibet Bitok who called on him here, said a press release. The both sides exchanged views of matter of mutual interests and bilateral significance in the meeting. He emphasized the need to further enhancing trade and economic cooperation as much of the areas still remained unexplored. The high commissioner informed that Pakistan was the largest importer of Kenyan tea and observed that there was large scope for exploring new opportunities. Dr Shahzad Wasim said that education and health were sectors in which both sides could initiate joint ventures. He however, emphasized the need for providing the investors opportunity to come into interaction for exploring investment opportunities. The senator also highlighted the significance of parliamentary cooperation and enhanced institutional linkages. He said that Parliamentary cooperation needed to be enhanced through frequent exchange of the delegations. The both sides, he said enjoyed cordial relations at international forums and this could further be enhanced through mutual institutional collaboration and exchange of visits at highest level. Senator Sitara Ayaz also attended the meeting. She also underscored the need to enhanced linkages at parliamentary and other levels for mutual benefit of the two sides. The high commissioner observed that Pakistan and Kenya enjoyed excellent cooperation and we aimed to further enhance bilateral ties with Pakistan. He lauded Pakistan’s strategy to contain corona pandemic and said that leadership of Pakistan took bold decisions by not only protecting the people but also providing economic relief to the marginalized segments. He said that our ties were historical and we needed to further build these mutual beneficial ties.