BY: City Reporter FT :
ISLAMABAD — Linking the country’s economic future with the entrepreneurial capabilities of its youth, Deputy Chairman Senate Syedal Khan Nasir has said that Pakistan’s sustainable development hinges on transforming the youth into job creators rather than job seekers. Equipped with modern skills, technology, and financial backing, young entrepreneurs possess the full potential to scale their startups into international brands.
He expressed these views while addressing as the chief guest at the “International SMEs Excellence Awards 2026,” organized by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries.
Syedal Khan Nasir highlighted that over 7.14 million active Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the country serve as the bedrock of the national economy. This sector contributes 40 percent to the national GDP, 30 percent to exports, and accounts for over 80 percent of employment in the non-agricultural sector. Providing financial and technical support to small businesses translates into securing the entire nation’s economic ecosystem.
Stressing the imperative of providing loans on easy terms to small traders, he urged for the practical benefits of the State Bank’s regulatory framework and the “2026–28 Access to Finance Plan” to reach the grassroots level so that economic policy outcomes do not remain confined to official files.
Terming the promotion of women entrepreneurs an absolute economic necessity, the Deputy Chairman Senate noted that a significant boost in exports and foreign exchange reserves can be achieved by integrating Pakistani products into the global value chain through digital technology and e-commerce. He assured the business community of Parliament’s full support in extending comprehensive legislative backing and fostering an enabling, business-friendly environment.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, he congratulated Sardar Saqib Naseem, President of the Chamber, Muhammad Rauf Raja, Chairman of the Award Committee, and all distinguished enterprises recognized for their outstanding achievements.
