SMEDA BEING TREATED UNFAIRLY ALTHOUGH DESERVES BEST PRIORITY

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged Abdul Razzak Dawood the adviser to prime minister (PM) Imran Khan on commerce, industry, production and textiles to comprehend the important role of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and not neglect it.
The rules and regulations of the authority cannot be violated and trampled and it needs to remain an effective body for all times to come as an autonomous body for SME promotion and development.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver regretted that SMEDA is being given step motherly treatment by the ministry of industries under the adviser, who by virtue of his position is also the chairman of SMEDA.
Thaver lamented that it is almost two years that the board of directors (BoD) has completed its term and new board is not constituted, SMEDA is without a proper chief executive officer for the last couple of years and the much talked about SME policy is not yet finalized. The sector is in fact now demanding a separate ministry as in other countries of the world where it is directly under the chief executive of the country. The SME sector is the majority sector and deserves a focused attention for fast track work. It is unfortunate that the policy makers do not know the size and strength of the sector. Many years have passed and yet they are quoting the same figures that there are 3.2 million SMEs.
Thaver said as chairman of the capacity building group under National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) , his group had recommended survey of the sector and also strengthening SMEDA which are very important recommendations and yet remain to be implemented.
Thaver said it is pertinent to note that SMEDA cannot remain without a BoD and the BoD as per articles of association has to comprise of one private sector representative from each province and besides that there are representatives from ministries of finance, industries and planning. Additionally the chairman can take representative from other ministries or institutions. It is also very important that SMEDA now has a very competent, experienced CEO, an expert in SME promotion and development not a mediocre as the sector is facing challenges and needs a person with a vision for uplift of the sector by jump start.
UNISAME Council fails to understand the non seriousness of the government towards SMEDA which is the key institution for SME promotion and development. SMEDA needs to be strengthened and its size and scope needs to be enhanced to enable it to cope with the challenges and to outreach the sector all over the country.

Posted in: Press Releases