Day: July 16, 2026

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SAPM chairs broader consultative meeting on easier access to finance for SMEs


Lahore: Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan Wednesday chaired a high-level consultative meeting to explore practical measures for improving access to finance for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).



The meeting was arranged by Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA). Over 70 SME-based chambers and industry associations from across Pakistan attended the meeting online. Federal Secretary for Industries and Production Saif Anjum, Additional Secretary Ms. Humaira Zia Mufti, SMEDA General Manager Hassanain Javed and other senior officials were also present.



Addressing the participants, Haroon Akhtar Khan said that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is committed to making bank financing more accessible for SMEs. On the Prime Minister’s instructions, he added, a working group comprising representatives of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has been constituted to review and simplify the SME lending process.



He further stated that Ministry of Industries and Production, through SMEDA, is also conducting a comprehensive review of the key barriers preventing SMEs from obtaining bank financing. He revealed that the Prime Minister has sought a list of companies whose loan applications were recently rejected by banks.



The SAPM urged representatives of the participating trade bodies to submit, at the earliest, details of SMEs whose loan applications had been declined. He expressed confidence that under the leadership of Prime Minister and through the collaborative efforts of the State Bank of Pakistan, the Ministry of Industries and Production, and SMEDA, the process of obtaining bank financing for SMEs would soon become simpler, transparent, and more efficient.



Haroon Akhtar Khan said, the government would also obtain records of rejected loan applications from banks to analyze the reasons behind their rejection and take appropriate measures to address those issues.



Speaking on the occasion, SMEDA Chief Executive Officer Ms. Nadia Jahangir Seth informed the participants that SMEDA has established an SME Registration Portal through which all SMEs are being registered free of charge. She explained that the objective of this initiative is to enable SMEs to benefit from government support programmes, including improved access to finance and other public sector facilitation services.



During the meeting, representatives of more than 70 chambers of commerce and SME associations from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan highlighted the challenges faced by SMEs in obtaining financing and presented a range of practical recommendations to overcome these obstacles.



Concluding the session, SMEDA CEO assured the participants that all recommendations received during the consultation would be consolidated and conveyed to the Prime Minister through the SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan, for consideration.



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PSX rebounds, gains over 1,766 points


Islamabad: The benchmark KSE-100 Index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) staged a strong recovery on Wednesday, gaining 1,766.97 points, a positive change of 1.02 percent, to close at 175,285.78 points against 173,518.82 points recorded on the previous trading day.



During the session, the ready market recorded a trading volume of 583.805 million shares with a traded value of Rs26.045 billion, compared to 912.614 million shares valuing Rs45.614 billion in the previous session. The market capitalization increased to Rs19.783 trillion from Rs19.584 trillion a day earlier.



Out of 495 active companies in the ready market, 361 advanced, 104 declined, and 30 remained unchanged.



K-Electric Ltd. led the volume chart with 52.695 million shares, followed by Cnergyico PK with 37.967 million shares and TPL Properties with 27.820 million shares.



The top gainers included PIA Holding Company LimitedB, which surged by Rs688.00 to close at Rs18,294.00, and Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited, which gained Rs165.00 to settle at Rs25,525.00.



On the losing side, Khairpur Sugar Mills Limited declined by Rs131.02 to close at Rs2,310.46, while Shield Corporation Limited fell by Rs39.95 to settle at Rs750.15.



In the futures (DFC) market, turnover stood at 133.839 million shares with a traded value of Rs6.255 billion, compared to 223.550 million shares worth Rs11.398 billion in the previous session.



Out of 302 futures-market companies, 235 advanced, 64 declined, and three remained unchanged.



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PMA announces end to strike, resumes OPD services government hospitals across province


Quetta: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has announced the end of its ongoing protest, boycott of OPDs, and withdrawal of its planned sit-in, citing the province’s current situation and the difficulties faced by the public.

According to the PMA Quetta Zone spokesperson, the decision was made following a meeting with the Commissioner Quetta Division and Deputy Commissioner Quetta, who appealed to doctors to call off their strike in view of the hardships faced by patients.

The spokesperson explained that doctors had launched the protest to demand security for medical staff in government hospitals and resolution of other legitimate issues. As part of the protest, OPD services had been completely suspended. However, in response to the administration’s appeal and considering the public’s suffering, PMA announced that it was temporarily ending its protest and resuming OPD services across government hospitals in the province.

He added that doctors are regarded as ‘healers’ in society, and the decision to s
trike was taken reluctantly to press for their demands. PMA Quetta and Young Doctors had earlier given a call for a sit-in outside the Red Zone in Quetta, but this has now been withdrawn due to the province’s prevailing circumstances.

The spokesperson clarified that once conditions improve, the association may reconsider launching protests again at an appropriate time. Regular OPD services have resumed across Balochistan’s government hospitals, ensuring patients receive treatment without further disruption.

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Extreme heatwave, dust storms forecast across province


Quetta: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a weather advisory warning of severe heat and dry conditions across most districts of Balochistan over the next 48 to 72 hours.



According to the Regional Meteorological Center Quetta, very hot weather will prevail in Nokkundi, Washuk, Panjgur, Dalbandin, Kharan, Noshki, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Jhal Magsi, Usta Muhammad, and surrounding areas. The maximum temperature recorded in Sibi reached 46°C, while Gwadar registered the lowest at 31°C.



The forecast also indicates rain, windstorms, and isolated thunderstorms in several districts including Zhob, Sherani, Barkhan, Musakhail, Loralai, Duki, Killa Saifullah, Harnai, Kohlu, Dera Bugti, Awaran, Lasbella, Khuzdar, Kalat, Surab, Mastung, and Quetta. Strong gusty winds are expected in most parts of the province during the afternoon and evening, which may disrupt daily life and pose risks to travelers.



Authorities have urged residents to take precautions against the heatwave and dust storms, advising vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and outdoor workers to remain hydrated and avoid unnecessary exposure.



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Sindh College Education dept to develop a database for rapid need assessment of colleges


Karachi: Sindh College Education department on Wednesday decided to develop a comprehensive database covering basic facilities, infrastructure and institutional requirements of government colleges across the province for ensuring fast track need assessment and integrated future planning.

The decision was agreed in a review meeting on development, administrative, financial and audit affairs of the department held here with Secretary College Education Sindh Nadeem ur Rehman Memon in chair, said a statement issued here.

The secretary directed the relevant authorities to collect the required information from all colleges within a stipulated timeframe so that future development planning could be aligned with ground realities and the actual needs of educational institutions.

The meeting reviewed and discussed in detail the matters related to procurement of furniture, computers and laboratory equipment for government colleges, ongoing development schemes, recruitment matters, financial affairs and audit issues a
s well as purchase of furniture, computers and laboratory equipment for government colleges during the fiscal years 2021-2025.

Expressing displeasure over the non-availability of equipment in certain colleges, the secretary ordered the issuance of notices to former drawing and disbursing officers as well as contractors concerned and directed legal action against those responsible.

Moreover, to ensure transparency and accountability in the procurement and distribution process, all college principals concerned were directed to submit complete records including certificates confirming receipt of the supplied items and report of complete verification of the equipment at the earliest.

The Secretary college education reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, merit, financial discipline and timely implementation across the department to further improve its performance and make it more efficient, transparent and responsive to public expectations.

While reviewing the ongoing recruitment p
rocess, Nadeem Memon instructed that regions where scrutiny had already been completed should immediately proceed to the next stages of recruitment to ensure merit-based, transparent and timely appointments.

Reviewing pending audit matters, the secretary directed all regional directors to prepare comprehensive responses to outstanding audit observations, complete internal audits of government colleges and ensure timely disposal of matters relating to the Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The meeting was attended by Special Secretary College Education Farrukh Shahzad Qureshi, Director General Colleges Prof Zahid Hussain Rajpar, Director Development Engineer Sajjad Ali Abro, Deputy Director Saeed Ahmed Abro, Regional Director Prof Gulab Rai and other senior officials of the department, while regional directors from across Sindh participated online.

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On orders of Federal Ombudsman, QESCO provides petitioner Rs. 50,000 relief in power bill


Quetta: Federal Ombudsman Regional Office, Quetta ordered Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) to correct electricity bill of a petitioner providing him a relief of Rs. 50,000.



According to details, petitioner Naimatullah filed a complain that QESCO sent him an unfair electricity bill and contacted the concerned department several times to get it corrected, but there was no response.



Therefore, to seek justice, he applied to the Federal Ombudsman Regional Office Quetta. As soon as the application was received, the Federal Ombudsman Regional Office Quetta initiated a timely inquiry and summoned the concerned department and started an immediate hearing of the case.



During the hearing, the concerned department could not give a satisfactory answer. Therefore, the Federal Ombudsman issued orders to address issue of petitioner and correct the bill at the earliest.



As the order was received, the concerned department corrected the petitioner’s electricity bill. The petitioner thanked the Federal Ombudsman for this timely and fair decision.