Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has made a pivotal decision to integrate women entrepreneurs from cottage industries and small businesses into the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector.

This decision emerged from a meeting held in Islamabad to evaluate ongoing reforms under the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA). The Prime Minister has established a committee tasked with crafting a comprehensive action plan aimed at empowering women in small-scale businesses, requesting that they present their recommendations promptly.

He instructed the relevant authorities to focus on empowering educated and skilled women, particularly those in rural and remote areas, by facilitating their involvement in cottage industries. This initiative includes setting up facilitation centers to offer specialized training, thereby enhancing their business operations.

Additionally, directives were issued to facilitate loan access for women through the Prime Minister’s Youth Loan Scheme. Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the government’s commitment to empowering women, who make up nearly half of the population, by providing the needed resources and training to secure employment and manage their enterprises.

The meeting also included a briefing for the Prime Minister on the current progress of SME development under SMEDA.