SME empowerment accelerates, SAPM Haroon Akhtar calls for Concrete “Pharma Park Blueprint”

ISLAMABAD, Nov 15 (APP): Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan has chaired a follow-up meeting with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) in Islamabad on Saturday.
This meeting was held a day after his detailed interaction with the SMEs Cluster of Rawalpindi and the President of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), where pharmaceutical SMEs highlighted their challenges and the need for structured government support, said a release issued here.
During today’s meeting, the SAPM instructed SMEDA to come up with a detailed plan and framework for establishing a Pharma Park in Islamabad, noting that such a facility is essential for supporting pharmaceutical SMEs and creating a conducive environment for growth, innovation, and quality enhancement.
Haroon Akhtar Khan emphasized that SMEs have enormous potential. What they need is a proper platform and institutional support to scale up and contribute more effectively to the national economy, he said. He highlighted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision places SMEs at the center of economic revival, job creation and export growth.
The SAPM also underscored the importance of empowering women entrepreneurship, directing SMEDA to expand its facilitation programs, training initiatives, and outreach efforts to ensure greater participation of women in the business landscape.
He reiterated that SMEDA must play a more proactive and strategic role in supporting SMEs across sectors by guiding them, identifying bottlenecks, and proposing actionable solutions.
Haroon Akhtar reaffirmed that the Ministry of Industries and Production remained focused on strengthening SMEs through sector-specific initiatives, improved financing avenues, and strong linkages with local and international markets.