The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged to identify and remove the impediments to the sector.
In a meeting held at a local club to draw the attention of the policymakers and seek priority for the sector, UNISAME President Zulfikar Thaver said it was important for the government to reduce taxes and broaden the tax network. It is also essential for the government to promote industrialization, modernise agriculture and begin a campaign “make in Pakistan”.
He offered help in promoting the ‘make in Pakistan’ programme. He also urged the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to submit a plan in this regard to the government before the budget.
He invited the attention of the government to the ‘make in India’ programme in India and asserted that Pakistan had superior farm produce than India and their SMEs could get better raw material supplies from farms for value addition. “What we need is trade leadership and SMEDA has to play effective role.”
He said the UNISAME was a forum which was established to take the challenge of developing Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan. With a futuristic approach and professional management structure, it has focus on providing an enabling environment and business development services to small and medium enterprises
He pointed out that UNISAME was not only an SME policy-advisory body for the government of Pakistan but also facilitates other stakeholders in addressing their SME development agendas. Various international bodies visit us regularly for seeking feedback on the progress in SME promotion and development.
He said UNISAME is an SME Forum sponsored by SMILE Pvt Ltd. It is managed by entrepreneurs who volunteer to help other SMEs without obligation. With wide-ranging services and programmes, UNISAME strives to equip member SMEs with the business knowledge and market opportunities to help them grow their businesses.
The participants expressed surprise that the government in spite of knowing well that the micro and SMEs are in the majority and without uplifting the majority sector the economy is not going to grow. They pointed out that there is lethargy in the government’s approach.
The participants spoke with emphasis on their requirements of finance, energy, environment, facilitation, supply chain, protection, exemptions, and incentives and expressed deep concern on high handedness of officials.
The SMEs are bothered by corruption, inflation and demands of miscreants in industrial areas and shopping centers. Although some pointed out that extortion and kidnapping has been controlled but nevertheless street crimes have increased and mobile and wallet snatching have increased in certain areas. The SMEs appreciated the role of the Rangers and seemed happy at the presence of Rangers at important industrial areas, markets and business centers.
The SMEs urged the government to attend to the requirements of the sector seriously and focus on facilitating the sector to enable it to meet the challenges and to remain competitive.
UNISAME committee members resolved to support the government in the implementation of the make in Pakistan program and urged the government to declare it without loss of time and invite investors both local and overseas to invest in Pakistan and facilitate them with one window operation, tax exemptions, protection and technical help.