Report Hurish shah
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia has called for placing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at the centre of Pakistan’s economic development strategy, stressing that a strong SME sector is essential for accelerating industrialisation, creating jobs and boosting exports.
He said SMEs could make a greater contribution to domestic manufacturing, entrepreneurship and economic growth if supported by consistent policies and a business-friendly environment.
He expressed these views during an interaction with visiting delegations of business representatives at the Chamber House, where participants discussed the challenges facing SMEs and measures needed to strengthen their role in economic activity and private-sector development.
The ICCI president called for a comprehensive review of policies affecting small businesses, particularly in light of rising energy and production costs, complicated taxation procedures and regulatory hurdles. He stressed the importance of promoting local manufacturing, encouraging value addition and establishing a predictable business environment that would allow enterprises to expand and invest with confidence.
He also highlighted the need to support women and young entrepreneurs, saying greater opportunities for these groups could broaden economic participation, encourage innovation and generate employment.
ICCI Senior Vice President Mohammad Ashfaq Hussain Chatha drew attention to the financial and administrative barriers limiting SME growth. He called for affordable credit facilities, easier access to working capital and financing products tailored to the needs of small businesses.
He also emphasised the importance of simplifying tax compliance and improving coordination among relevant institutions to reduce the administrative burden on enterprises. Such measures, he said, would enable businesses to allocate more resources to production, investment and expansion.
ICCI Vice President Mohammad Waqas Khan highlighted the role of technology adoption and market access in improving the competitiveness of SMEs. He said digital platforms, e-commerce and modern business management tools could help small enterprises improve efficiency, reach new customers and explore opportunities beyond traditional markets.
He further stressed the need for skills development, digital literacy and export-readiness programmes to prepare SMEs for international competition and facilitate their integration into global value chains.
The ICCI leadership maintained that a supportive policy framework, improved access to finance, simpler regulations and greater adoption of technology would be essential to unlocking the potential of SMEs and strengthening Pakistan’s economic base.
