PBF demands greater focus on SMEs.

LAHORE -- The Pakistan Businesses Forum (PBF) says small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have proved to be the engine of growth in several successful economies, including Japan, South Korea and Taiwan and they have well supported by financial institutions, therefore, Pakistan must not ignore this vital sector especially in ongoing pandemic.

PBF President Sahibzada Mian Usman Zulfiqar told the media here Sunday that SMEs proved very effective in transferring benefits of growth to different economic tiers of the society, and at times, provide valuable inputs to large exporting industries.

According to a recent study, he mentioned, SMEs hold a minimal share of the banking credit portfolio while the major chunk goes to corporate sector.

Mian Usman was of the view that availability of banking credit worked as a lifeline for a business but, unfortunately, credit flow in...