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ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $800,000 technical assistance grant to help prepare a Sectoral Development Programme to support the operating environment of small and medium enterprises (SME) and increase their potential as catalyst for pro-poor growth and employment.
The goal of the assistance, according to local ADB office, is to support an enabling environment for SME growth, employment and poverty reduction. Specific objectives include identifying and preparing key policy and institutional reforms, and develop suitable business and financial service channels and products, to facilitate a demand-led growth of SME.
These measures will be implemented under a sector development programme, which is expected to start in 2003 and supported by an ADB assistance package of about $100 million. This assistance reinforces ADB’s partnership with Pakistan’s SME and financial sector.
ADB Country Director in Pakistan M. Ali Shah commented that Pakistan’s SME contributed more than 30 per cent to the GDP and absorbed more than 80 per cent employment, and thus had considerable potential for economic growth, employment, income generation and poverty reeducation. Yet, this potential in the past had not been fully realized, and SME business activities were constrained by a number of factors relating to their operating environment.
GENDER REFORMS: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has decided to provide $400,000 technical assistance for a gender reform programme in Pakistan.
According to sources in the local ADB office, the Netherlands will also be providing a grant of $200,000 for gender reforms. The ministry of women development, social welfare and special education will execute the programme.
The aid will cover the federal government, the four provinces and the federally-administered tribal areas (Fata). The technical assistance will support institutional reforms to assist the government to prepare a gender reforms action plan to strengthen national machinery dealing with gender issues.
