Asaan Karobar Finance Scheme: Important news for loan applicants

The Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Haroon Akhtar Khan, has praised Punjab’s Asaan Karobar Finance Scheme as a successful model and suggested that other provinces start similar programs.

He said that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and directed financial institutions and SMEDA to speed up joint efforts to support businesses.

In a high-level meeting in Karachi, he emphasized that, according to the Prime Minister’s vision, business owners should have easy access to loans.

During the meeting, officials said that in the past year, loans worth Rs100 billion were distributed, benefiting more than 110,000 people.

Haroon Akhtar Khan recommended that other provinces follow Punjab’s example and launch similar schemes. A special working group will be formed within SMEDA to coordinate with banks, provide training, and improve communication.

Special financing schemes will also be introduced for underdeveloped areas like Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Kashmir.

The success of this model has attracted interest from countries like the Philippines and Bangladesh, showing a positive sign for Pakistan’s economy.

Haroon Akhtar Khan stressed that building an effective financial ecosystem requires close collaboration between SMEDA, provincial governments, and banks. Financial institutions assured full cooperation and promised to make loans even more accessible.