ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday described Pakistan’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as the backbone of national economy, issuing directives to take necessary measures to integrate them into the global supply chain, according to a statement from his office.
Pakistan has been striving to attract foreign investment as it recovers from a prolonged economic crisis characterized by a tough balance of payments situation, dwindling foreign currency reserves and a depreciating national currency.
While the government has signed various agreements with close allies and sought to promote business-to-business partnerships to drive growth, Sharif recently noted that foreign investment would remain elusive without first strengthening domestic investment.
“Small and medium enterprises are the backbone of the economy,” he said while presiding over a meeting in Lahore to evaluate the SME sector, according to the statement. “Comprehensive steps are needed to make Pakistani industries a part of the global supply chain.”
The prime minister received a detailed briefing on the operations of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) and was told its board of directors had been constituted and had started holding regular meetings.
“The process of hiring international-standard experts for the development of the SME sector has been initiated,” the official statement said.
“The State Bank of Pakistan has also instructed banks to simplify and streamline the loan application forms for SMEs,” it added.
The meeting was also informed that authorities were in the process of gathering data on SMEs across Pakistan to enable informed decision-making for the sector.
Pakistan PM calls SMEs ‘backbone’ of national economy, seeks steps for their global integration
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Pakistan PM calls SMEs ‘backbone’ of national economy, seeks steps for their global integration
- The government has initiated the process of hiring experts for the development of the SME sector
- State Bank of Pakistan has also directed banks to simplify the loan application process for SMEs
Pakistan to release film next month to counter ‘negative propaganda’ by Indian flick Dhurandhar
- Dhurandhar, an Indian spy thriller released earlier this month, is set in Karachi’s impoverished Lyari neighborhood
- “Mera Layari” will showcase the true face of Lyari, one of peace and prosperity, says Sindh information minister
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will release a movie next month titled “Mera Layari” to counter the “negative propaganda” of a Karachi neighborhood by India’s latest flick “Dhurandhar,” Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said on Sunday.
Dhurandhar features leading Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh as the male lead who portrays Hamza, an Indian spy on a perilous mission in Pakistan’s Karachi city. The film traces his battles against criminal networks and shadowy operatives in the context of the India-Pakistan tensions.
Most of the movie features portrayals of Karachi’s rough Lyari neighborhood, recognized as one of its most impoverished ones. Lyari has witnessed gang wars where criminal networks operated with impunity for several years.
“Indian movie Dhurandhar is yet another example of negative propaganda by the Indian film industry against Pakistan, especially targeting Lyari,” Memon wrote on social media platform X.
“Lyari is not violence— it is culture, peace, talent, and resilience. Next month Mera Lyari will release, showing the true face of Lyari: peace, prosperity, and pride.”
Mera Layari will feature actors Dananeer Mubeen, Samiya Mumtaz, Ayesha Omar and Adnan Shah Tipu in prominent roles, as per the flick’s poster.
Omar is also the film’s executive producer while it has been directed by filmmaker Abu Aleeha.
Earlier this week, a constitutional petition against Dhurandhar was also filed in a Karachi district and sessions court.
The petitioner, a supporter of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) which is in power in Sindh, filed the petition for unauthorized use of late Benazir Bhutto, former PPP chairperson and Pakistani ex-prime minister., PPP flag and party rally footage.
