ISLAMABAD – The Prime Minister’s aide (PM’s aide) on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, chaired the 31st meeting of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) Board on Friday. The session was attended by Secretary Industries and Production Saif Anjum, SMEDA CEO Soqrat Aman Rana, and other senior officials.
Welcoming the new Board members, the PM’s aide highlighted that under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directives, SMEDA’s new structure has been finalised. The reforms focus on an outsourcing model, policy development, and programme design to enhance efficiency.
The PM’s aide emphasised that SMEDA will prioritise initiatives targeting SMEs, micro-enterprises, women entrepreneurs, and climate-related challenges. He announced that regional offices will soon be established in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan to expand the organisation’s reach.
A major agenda of the meeting was the appointment of SMEDA’s new CEO. The Board decided that the Human Resource Committee will finalise the selection, ensuring a process that is immediate, transparent, and merit-based, as instructed by the Prime Minister.
Speaking at the meeting, Haroon Akhtar Khan underlined SMEDA’s pivotal role in Pakistan’s economy. He stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has a clear vision to strengthen the institution and is personally committed to its success. “The appointment of the CEO will strictly be on merit. Transparency and fairness are non-negotiable,” the PM’s aide said.
The PM’s aide also reaffirmed SMEDA’s mission to empower women, support micro-enterprises, and drive SME growth, calling it a transformative step for the country. He noted that SMEs are expanding rapidly, and SMEDA plays a crucial role in facilitating this growth, contributing to economic stability and societal development.
In others news read more about: Govt Urged to Protect SMEs from Closure: FBATI President
