Candid discussions with small and medium enterprise (SME) owners give an impression that SMEs are the stepchildren when it comes to the big daddy’s (Federal Government) engagement with the “business community”.

On paper, it seems that SMEs are the darlings of both Federal and provincial governments. Besides a dedicated and well-funded SME Development Authority (SMEDA) at the Federal level, dozens of SME-centric bodies exist in provinces in a number of clusters like dairy development, gems and jewellery, horticulture, furniture and agro-processing. Budgetary funds are also earmarked for them every year.