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Govt is determined to provide all possible assistance to Small & Medium Enterprises: PM
October 15, 2021

Prime Minister Imran Khan says imparting vocational training to the youth is government's priority and it is determined to provide all possible assistance to the Small and Medium Enterprises.

Chairing a review meeting on priority sectors in Islamabad on Friday, he said  overseas Pakistanis are a great asset of Pakistan and all the foreign missions have been directed to collaborate with the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training to ensure export of skilled workforce.

He said a comprehensive strategy has been evolved to this effect for the first time in the history of Pakistan. He said all the institutions, with mutual cooperation, are planning in view of the consumption of the workforce at the international level.

The Prime Minister also called for taking steps in the priority areas within the stipulated time frame.

The meeting was informed about making the administrative procedure easy for the overseas Pakistanis and SMEs as well as the progress on various Memorandums of Understanding signed during foreign visits of the Prime Minister.

It was briefed that Overseas Employment Portal was launched to enhance export of the workforce. This portal is coordinating between the candidates and overseas employment opportunities. It is also helping in identifying skillset at the international level. The portal is also assisting the eligible candidates for foreign jobs in a transparent manner.

The meeting was apprised that 50,000 people, gone abroad under the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, have so far contributed 2.6 billion dollars' foreign exchange reserves.

The meeting was also briefed that universal standards have been issued to ensure equal quality of edible items.

The meeting was apprised about hurdles in the way of investment and steps taken to resolve these problems. The Prime Minister, on the occasion, instructed to remove all bottlenecks in the way of investment as soon as possible.

The meeting was further informed that a comprehensive strategy is being formulated on import of waste from abroad and steps are being taken to use local waste as an alternative.

Besides, it was briefed that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority is revising the issuance of separate cable licenses to hotel owners.