KARACHI—This notification comes as part of the recommendations the PBA’s SME Task Force made. The Pakistan Banks’ Association (PBA) lauded the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for its progressive step in revising per-party exposure limits for Small Enterprises (SE) and Medium Enterprises (ME), a critical measure aimed at enhancing credit access for SMEs.
Under the revised framework, Small Enterprises (SE R-2) can now avail of up to Rs. 100 million in exposure from a single bank or all banks and DFIs combined. Additionally, banks and DFIs are permitted to deduct liquid assets—such as bank deposits, certificates of deposit/investment, Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs), Treasury Bills, and National Saving Scheme (NSS) Securities—held under their perfected lien when calculating the per party exposure limit.
Similarly, Medium Enterprises (ME R-3) can now access financing, including leased assets, up to Rs. 500 million from a single bank or all banks and DFIs combined. Similar to small enterprises, banks and DFIs may deduct liquid assets held under their lien for the purpose of calculating the exposure limit.
These changes are effective immediately, and all banks and DFIs have been advised to ensure strict compliance. SBP’s revised exposure limits, recommended by PBA’s SME Task Force, will significantly advance financial inclusion and bolster the country’s SME sector.
Through its task force recommendations focused on Agriculture, SMEs, and Digital & Technology sectors, PBA continues to work diligently with the SBP and key stakeholders to build an ecosystem that supports sectoral expansion and unlocks new financing avenues. Although the ecosystem’s full potential may take time to materialize, it remains critical in promoting sustainable and evident growth in these crucial sectors of the economy as we advance.
Commenting on the recent development, Zafar Masud, Chairman – PBA, said, “SBP’s enhanced SME financing limits will significantly improve access to funding opportunities, accelerating innovation, financial inclusion, and entrepreneurship. PBA is committed to collaborating with the SBP to drive SME growth and foster economic progress across key sectors.”
