Primarily these NGOs were united in the four provinces. Whereas, a national forum has also been developed to have a smooth collaboration and co-operation of the NGOs included in promotion of small and micro enterprises, he said, adding the office-bearers for the national forum were elected at NGOs get-together arranged by Smeda. The united forum of NGOs at national level has been named as "Pakistan Livelihood & Enterprise Development Network (PLEDN), he added.
Dr Ghauri said the significance of NGOs was revealed by Smeda during implementation of a project for providing early relief to the SMEs damaged in the flood-2012. Smeda has helped revive about 11242 flood affected micro enterprises in 29 districts with the assistance of local NGOs, he added.
Dr Mohammad Nasir Khan Ghauri further said that, there is a need for holistic programme for enterprise and leadership development of women in the country as well through the networking that has been initiated under the platform of PEDN. He informed that Smeda had established women business incubation centres in major business cities like Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar. Smeda has recommended to replicate such incubation centres in other cities as well, Dr Ghauri added.