Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan met with the Chaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry to address pressing issues facing local businesses and Chaman SMEs. The delegation included Additional Secretaries from the Ministry of Industries and Production and SMEDA Chief Executive Officer Nadia J. Seth, and discussions focused on targeted federal support to unlock the region’s economic potential.
Chaman was highlighted as a strategic trade and transport hub with a population approaching one million, offering strong prospects to grow into a major SME centre. Chamber representatives urged the federal government to include the Chaman Industrial Zone in national industrial schemes and support programs to catalyse investment and formalise cross-border commerce.
The Chamber stressed the urgent need for vocational and technical training centres to develop skilled manpower for local industries. Proposals presented included the establishment of a government-backed Common Facility Center to allow firms to share machinery and reduce operational costs, and the creation of an Export Facilitation Desk in Chaman to streamline cross-border shipments and certification.
Participants also called for focused investment in agro-processing and cold chain infrastructure to strengthen local value chains and increase export readiness. Such measures were framed as essential to retain value locally, support farmers, and create jobs across the supply chain.
Haroon Akhtar Khan outlined Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s vision to promote and empower SMEs nationwide, saying the Prime Minister has directed facilitation and uplift for every enterprise. He acknowledged the Chaman Chamber’s role in cross-border trade and assured its inclusion in relevant development programs and committees to ensure planned interventions reach the ground.
The Special Assistant announced that, with support from SMEDA and the Pakistan Industrial and Technical Assistance Centre PITAC, a Technical and Vocational Training Center will be established in Chaman. He added that a Common Facility Center at the Chaman border is planned and will significantly benefit local operators. He also confirmed that ongoing government work on agro-processing and cold chain projects will extend to Chaman.
SMEDA was tasked to facilitate the Chaman Chamber and deliver tangible results, with clear directives to turn proposals into actionable projects. The meeting closed with a firm government commitment to support the development and growth of Chaman SMEs and to integrate the city into broader industrial and export strategies.
