ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday said the government was working on a priority basis for promotion of small and medium enterprises.
He was chairing the Steering Committee meeting of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda).
On the direction of the prime minister, micro enterprises have been made part of the SME sector and in this regard, a comprehensive policy was being formulated. He directed that new skilled manpower should be hired from the market for Smeda.
The prime minister said that while adopting a transparent process, a workforce of international standard should be hired in Smeda and their salaries should be according to the market rates. Professional labour training for the SME sector was very important, he added. He noted that the role of Smeda for the progress of rural economy was crucial and a strategy should be formed for the grant of interest-free loans by Smeda to the rural population including women. He ordered that all professional training institutes at the federal level should be merged into one institution.
The meeting was told that on the instruction of the prime minister, the representation of private sector was being increased in the Smeda board. A strategy was being put in place to equip the workforce in Smeda with new skills and modern technology. A plan was being prepared to make the portfolio of Smeda more effective and wide-ranging.
On the instruction of the prime minister, the Ministry of Commerce and Smeda were working together to identify companies related to exports. A well-planned performance management framework was being structured in Smeda. Smeda organised 28 seminars and training programmes in which 953 persons participated. It was informed that a financial literacy programme was being started for the SME sector for which the induction of experts was completed. An export assistance programme was being started to increase exports of the SME sector.
Separately, the prime minister chaired a review meeting on the National Youth Employment Plan and approved the plan to provide youth with training programmes according to market and industry skills and demand.
The meeting was briefed on the action plan to provide training and employment opportunities through various institutions in the next four years, whereas the prime minister had decided to personally chair the monthly review meeting and would personally monitor the implementation of the plan, a PMO news release said.
During the review meeting, the prime minister directed to maintain continuous liaison with local industries for training youth in various sectors and to meticulously consider the demand of international organisations for manpower. He also directed to establish comprehensive database regarding the skills required in local industries.
The meeting was informed that in the next four years, 2.4 million to 6 million youth annually would be assisted to gain employment opportunities by providing them vocational training and skills.
Meanwhile, the prime minister reaffirmed the federal government’s full support in development and welfare of people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
“We are committed to the development of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said while talking to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Khyber Pakhtunkhwa General Secretary who called on him here at the PM House. Murtaza Javed Abbasi invited the prime minister to visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and lay the foundation stone for an additional interchange on the Hazara Motorway to facilitate the people of Abbottabad and surrounding areas.
Newly appointed Special Assistant Huzaifa Rehman Thursday called on the prime minister and discussed matters relating to mutual interest.
Meanwhile, the prime minister expressed deep sorrow and grief over demise of former chairman joint chiefs of staff committee and former naval chief Admiral (retd) Iftikhar Ahmed Sirohey.
Meanwhile, the prime minister appointed Ikhtiar Wali Khan as his coordinator on information for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) affairs with an immediate effect.
