PM Shehbaz Sharif directs banks and financial institutions to expand lending to farmers, SMEs and the housing sector under the Access to Finance Plan 2026-28.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday chaired a review meeting on the Access to Finance Plan 2026-28, with a focus on improving financing for agriculture, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the housing sector.
The meeting reviewed ongoing measures and progress in providing financing under the Prime Minister Apna Ghar Scheme, as well as initiatives aimed at supporting the development of the agriculture and SME sectors.
Sharif directed banks and financial institutions to play their role in increasing the availability of loans for farmers, SMEs and the housing sector.
He said the government would encourage banks that make a strong contribution to expanding lending facilities.
“The agricultural sector is the backbone of the country’s economy, and working for its development is a national responsibility,” the prime minister said.
Sharif directed the relevant authorities to ensure that farmers have uninterrupted access to financial resources on easy terms. He emphasized the importance of facilitating financing for the agricultural sector to support its growth.
The prime minister also highlighted affordable housing as a government priority, particularly for low-income and middle-class segments of society.
He directed provincial chief secretaries to conduct comprehensive surveys of properties that could be used to facilitate financing for people seeking to build homes under the Prime Minister Apna Ghar Scheme.
The initiative is intended to improve access to housing finance for eligible individuals while expanding the role of banks and financial institutions in meeting financing needs across key sectors of the economy.
The meeting focused on continued progress under the Access to Finance Plan 2026-28 and measures to improve access to credit for agriculture, SMEs and housing.
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