UNISAME URGES OPPOSITION NOT TO DISRUPT COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

Dec 14, 2014 |
The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) said protesting is the right of the opposition and they can do it by all means but closure of business is badly affecting the SME sector as they are the worst affected and cannot afford to bear the losses due to disruption of their businesses.UNISAME has urged the protesting opposition to use the social media instead if at all they are seriously interested in constructive criticism and create awareness rather than injuring the economic growth of the country by shut downs.

President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said we surely understand that opposition is opposition and not friendly opposition but in the bargain the trade, industry and commerce should not be made to suffer as it puts the economy in turmoil and there is tremendous loss to the economy which will take years to recoup.

Thaver pointed out that the country is importing goods worth almost  US dollars 45 billions and only exporting goods worth US dollars 24 billions. Presently due to free imports even items which are made in Pakistan are imported. The country is importing luxury and essential goods both without taking into account the burden on the foreign exchange reserves.

He said fortunately the overseas Pakistanis are remitting US dollars 15 billions which is indeed a great help but nevertheless there is huge foreign and internal debt. The deficit is significant and every effort has to be made to overcome the gap by increasing exports.

The union chief urged the opposition and the government to settle their issues politically both in and outside the assemblies but not on the streets and not scare away prospective  overseas buyers who hesitate to come to Pakistan hearing about the violent situation.

Secondly even domestic investors are not putting up new industries or expanding their businesses or modernizing their factories as a result the country is becoming an import trading economy with bank accounts in Dubai from where the import bills are paid.

He elaborated that with the reduction in oil prices the country could benefit as it will affect all sectors favourably and cost of production will be lowered due to reduction in logistics cost, raw material and other factors of production. This will make us competitive but if there is closure of businesses due to protest, agitation and fear then the SMEs and the large sector will not benefit from the favourable aspects of related reductions.

The UNISAME experts appreciated the duty free imports of solar energy equipments and reduction in electricity charges and urged the government to exempt all alternate energy devices of wind and bio mass also. They urged the government to promote exports, establish a value addition bureau for educating the entrepreneurs to add value to the produce items,  Secondly they impressed upon the need to broaden support for agrobased industries, import substitution industries, indigenous raw material industries and protect the domestic industry by discouraging imports by imposing import duties on items imported which are made in Pakistan of international standard.

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