MULTAN, June 28th: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Reza Baqir has said that the SME Rozgar scheme was launched to limit the adverse impact of Covid-19 on businesses and employment in terms of payment of wages and salaries to the employees. Exchanging views with the president of Multan chamber of commerce & Industry (MCCI) Mian Fazal Elahi Sheikh , Baqir Zedi said the refinance scheme was launched as a risk-sharing initiative to facilitate small and medium enterprises (SMEs) during the ongoing difficult times and minimise the negative impact on numerous businesses caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Governor Baqir remarked that though the financing availed by businesses is encouraging so far, SBP is cognizant of the fact that SMEs are facing difficulties in availing this facility from the banks for various reasons.He was of the opinion that meetings via video link with the business and industrial community of Pakistan should be held regularly on a monthly basis so that the SBP could better understand the business community’s requirements and accordingly devise strategies. The SBP conducted the awareness campaign because lack of awareness on the part of SMEs was found as a key reason due to which SMEs could not avail financing facilities available under SBP SME Finance Policy or SBP’s subsidized refinance facilities. In order to improve awareness, banks have already been urged to provide details of such facilities to the SMEs in their areas. Governor SBP, on the proposal of Multan Chamber President, agreed to set-up a help desk in MCCI. Chief Manager SBP Multan Waqas Kashif Bajwa and Assistant Chief Manager Imran Sadaf were nominated as focal persons of help desk while Executive Director Development Finance Group Syed Samar Hasnain and Managing Director Banking Services Corporation Muhammad Ashraf Khan will monitor the performance of this desk. This help desk will facilitate the business community to have access to Governor State Bank. Members of the Multan Chamber and the business community can send their complaints, proposals easily. MCCI member can send their complaints on e-mail addresses: info@mcci.org, pk, or phone No.061-4543530.They can also contact on cell phone 0346-7141179(Assistant Chief Manager Imran Sadaf). The meeting was also attended by Mian Rashid Iqbal Senior Vice President, Mian Nadeem Ahmed Sheikh,Vice President,Khawaja Muhammad Yousaf ex-President, Syed Iftikhar Ali Shah Muhammad Shafiq,Khawaja Mansoor and Nadeem Ahmed
