KARACHI: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (Unisame) in a meeting has suggested empowering the Small and Medium Development Authority (Smeda) to increase the efficiency of the bureaucracy, a statement said.

Unisame President Zulfikar Thaver stressed on the fast implementation of the SME Policy 2021, saying that the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector is a majority sector.

He suggested the strengthening of the pillars of the economy namely banking, insurance, leasing (Pay as you earn scheme) and logistics, adding that it is high time for these tools to be modernized.

The Unisame Council recommended facilities for border trade with Afghanistan and becoming a window for marketing its produce and making the best of the opportunity.

The Council members also expressed the urgent need for monitoring imports of vehicles and stopping the outflow of valuable foreign exchange, while emphasizing the need to give top priority for import substitution industries.

The SME exporters said that the exports are increasing but it could be expanded more and if effective measures are taken by allowing the exports of commodities such as gurr, khashkhash and bhang.

The Council suggested the establishment of SME Liaison Committee (SME-LC) to act as a liaison between the entrepreneurs and the government and also a free legal aid sub-committee under its jurisdictions.

The committee will protect the rights of the SMEs who are sometimes unnecessarily harassed and victimized by the officials.