The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has extended the expiry date of the Refinance Facility for Modernisation of Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Refinance Scheme for Revitalisation of SMEs in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KP), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and the Federally Administered Tribal Area (Fata), Financing Facility for Storage of Agricultural Produce (FFSAP), and Agri. Loans Refinancing & Guarantee Scheme for War Affected Areas of KP and Fata by one year. These facilities/schemes will now remain valid up to December 31, 2013.

Refinance limits already sanctioned in favour of selected banks/Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) under the abovementioned schemes/facilities will also continue to be available up to the expiry date of December 31, 2013, the State Bank announced in a series of circulars issued on Wednesday.

Banks/DFIs can also apply for enhancement of limits after utilisation of their existing limits. Further, other interested banks/Development Finance Institutions, may also apply to IH&SME Finance Department of SBP for sanctioning of fresh limits under these facilities/schemes, the circulars added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012