Staff Reporter
Karachi
Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Reza Baqir has informed that so far a total of 1320 companies have availed SBP’s refinance scheme and a sum of Rs96 billion has been disbursed to the applicants during April, May and June 2020 under the said scheme which was launched to limit the adverse impact of the COVID-19 on businesses and employment in terms of payments of wages/salaries to workers/employees Governor State Bank was exchanging views with Presidents of Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta, Faisalabad, Sarhad, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Multan, Mirpurkhas Chambers and also the FPCCI at a meeting held recently via video link.
Governor State Bank said that the refinance scheme was launched as a risk sharing initiative to facilitate SMEs during the ongoing difficult times and minimize the negative impact on numerous businesses caused by the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.
He was of the opinion that this meeting via video link with the business and industrial community of entire Pakistan should be held regularly on monthly basis so that the SBP could better understand business community’s requirements and accordingly devise strategies. President KCCI Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan, in his remarks, urged the State Bank of Pakistan to publicize details of all the companies who have availed SBP’s refinance scheme with a view to make this scheme transparent otherwise.
