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SME financing gaps highlighted at Lahore expo | The Express Tribune

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SME financing gaps highlighted at Lahore expo | The Express Tribune


Chamber urges easier credit, cash-flow lending and support for women entrepreneurs

Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Photo: file


LAHORE:

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday organised the SME Finance and Banking Expo to provide small and medium enterprises direct access to banking facilities, financing schemes and financial products. According to a statement, the day-long event saw participation from almost all major commercial banks, Islamic banks and financial institutions operating in the country.

Banks set up dedicated stalls where a large number of LCCI members visited to obtain information on SME-focused financing products, refinance schemes, credit facilities, Islamic finance models and digital banking solutions. The expo aimed to bridge the gap between banks and businesses by improving awareness of available financial options.

The event was jointly inaugurated by LCCI President Faheemur Rehman Saigol, Executive Director State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Syed Basit Ali, SBP Chief Manager Tariq Riaz, LCCI Senior Vice President Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh, Vice President Khurram Lodhi and SAARC Chamber Vice President Mian Anjum Nisar. Convener SME Banking Expo Syed Salman Ali, CEO EXIM Bank Shahbaz Syed, members of the LCCI Executive Committee, senior bank officials, business leaders and women entrepreneurs were also present.

Addressing the ceremony, Saigol said the Lahore Chamber represents more than 48,000 member companies and is the largest chamber in the country. He said sustainable economic growth and regional competitiveness were not possible without strengthening the SME sector. He cited examples of countries including China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Japan and Taiwan, which achieved growth through small and medium enterprises.

Saigol said private sector financing in Pakistan remains low at around 6.5% of GDP. He noted that the number of SME borrowers stands at about 295,000, while outstanding SME financing is around Rs686 billion, far below potential. He said these figures indicate large untapped opportunities.

He pointed out that strict collateral requirements remain a major hurdle for small businesses despite strong market potential. He urged banks to focus on cash flows, business models and market value, and to expand low-collateral financing schemes. He also called for special support for women-owned businesses through simpler procedures and dedicated desks.

SBP Executive Director Syed Basit Ali said SMEs are a top priority for the government and the central bank. He said new principle-based prudential regulations have been introduced to encourage cash-flow based lending, while work is underway with international institutions to develop viable products. He added that women’s inclusion targets under the Banking on Equality policy have been achieved and work has begun on Vision 2.0.



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Lucid widely misses earnings expectations, forecasts continued EV growth in 2026

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Lucid widely misses earnings expectations, forecasts continued EV growth in 2026


A Lucid Gravity coming off the line at the company’s factory in Casa Grande, Arizona.

Lucid Group reported mixed fourth-quarter results Tuesday as the electric vehicle maker continues to face challenging market conditions and internal struggles.

The company widely missed Wall Street’s quarterly earnings expectations, while beating average revenue estimates by roughly 12%. It also revised its 2025 production results due to internal validation issues, but guided for a notable increase in vehicle production this year.

Here’s how the company performed in the fourth quarter compared with average estimates compiled by LSEG:

  • Loss per share: $3.62 vs. a loss of $2.62 cents expected
  • Revenue: $523 million vs. $468 million expected

Lucid’s results come days after the company laid off 12% of its U.S. salaried workforce in an effort to streamline operations and “operate with greater efficiency and deliver on our commitments to gross margin improvement and long term growth,” according to a statement from the company.

Interim Lucid CEO Marc Winterhoff described the cuts Tuesday to CNBC as a needed realignment of the company’s workforce amid broader market and economic concerns as well as needed gains in efficiency.

“We are adjusting and going to a level where we think we want to be and need to be,” he said. “But it’s nothing that will continue in the future.”

For 2026, the company announced a vehicle production target of between 25,000 and 27,000 units. That would mark an increase of roughly 40% to 51% compared with the year-end figures the company released Tuesday.

Lucid said the revision for the year — from 18,378 units to 17,840 units — came as “538 vehicles had not completed certain internal procedures required under its final validation process to be classified as produced.”

The company said the vehicles are expected to be completed this year, with the change not affecting its previously reported financial results.

Winterhoff described the expected growth as “healthy,” but not “outrageous” given the current slowdown in overall vehicle sales, including EVs.

“Our initial plans were higher, but we wanted to really be conservative and make sure that we are hitting the numbers that we are projecting,” he told CNBC.

Lucid is expected to begin production of a new, less expensive midsize vehicle at the end of this year, but Winterhoff said it will not be material to its 2026 production plans. He said the automaker’s Gravity SUV is expected to account for the majority of its production and sales this year, followed by the Air sedan. The company also plans to launch its first Lucid robotaxis with previously announced partners.

Winterhoff said the company’s main priorities this year are achieving its production target, growing sales, continuing efficiency gains and preparing for production of the midsize vehicle and robotaxis.

“We really want to make sure that we [are] on our path to profitability, make sure that we’re not spending money that we don’t have to. That’s very, very important,” he told CNBC.

Lucid has yet to say when the company expects to be profitable. It is scheduled to host an investor day on March 12 in New York.

Lucid said it ended last year with approximately $4.6 billion in total liquidity, which Lucid CFO Taoufiq Boussaid said was “strong” and would provide flexibility “to execute near-term objectives while investing in future growth.”

Lucid reported a net loss of $2.7 billion in 2025, in line with a $2.71 billion loss a year earlier. That includes more than doubling its year-over-year losses during the fourth quarter to $814 million. It reported a loss of $12.09 per share for the year.

The company’s 2025 revenue was up 68% to $1.35 billion, including more than doubling year-over-year results during the fourth quarter.



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Gadgets Now Awards 2025 recognise tech excellence – The Times of India

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Gadgets Now Awards 2025 recognise tech excellence – The Times of India


NEW DELHI: The Times of India Gadgets Now Awards 2025 celebrated last year’s standout gadgets at an event on Monday where technology met glamour. The event drew an eclectic gathering of distinguished guests who came together to recognise technological excellence across key categories, including smartphones, smartwatches, audio products, televisions and more.This year, the Awards that are in its 6th edition went a step further and also recognised India’s leading influencers and creators who are redefining the tech content landscape.

Gadgets Now Awards 2025 recognise tech excellence

The winners included Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which scored a double win as the Best Smartphone Editor’s Choice and Popular Choice.Apple iPhone 17 was adjudged the Best Premium Smartphone Editor’s Choice, while Samsung Galaxy S 25 won the Popular Choice in the same category.Samsung once again picked up 2 awards as Galaxy Z Fold 7 was crowned the Editor’s Choice and Popular Choice winner in the Best Foldable Smartphone category.Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro won the Editor’s Choice Best AI-powered gadget, while Neosapien Neo 1 was the Popular Choice winner.



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Google apologises for Baftas alert to ‘see more’ on racial slur

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Google apologises for Baftas alert to ‘see more’ on racial slur



Google said the news alert was an error that should not have happened.



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