UNISAME URGES GOVT TO RESOLVE ISSUES OF WHEAT, RICE, SUGAR & COTTON
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver speaking on a television channel invited the immediate attention of the government to the decline in exports and the losses suffered by the SME units of processing industries of rice, wheat, sugar, cotton and maize. The country has been blessed with handsome crops but unfortunately the exports have declined due to international fall in the prices of commodities. Due to uncertain conditions the buyers are not purchasing the commodities apprehending further fall in prices.
Thaver said it is therefore expected of the government to take immediate decisions and revive exports of rice, wheat, sugar by examining the need for subsidies on priority basis to continue exports. He pointed out that the government must swallow the bitter pill of subsidies to regain the lost markets.
Timely decisions are required otherwise the competing countries are expected to enter the global markets in March next month and leave us regretting for not having exported our commodities. It is an acknowledged fact that some of our varieties of rice, wheat, maize, sugar, cotton are superior to other countries and can fetch marginally better price. It would be wise to export the goods in time and prepare for the next season to build the confidence of the growers, millers, ginning units and the crushers rather than ignore their bonafide demands for subsidies to overcome the crisis of lack of demand due to the price factor and competitiveness.
On behalf of the micro and SME sector he demanded the setting up of the SME- Liaison Committee (SME-LC) and protection squads to be managed by the SME-LC. There is urgent need for superior and more efficient police. He recommended higher salaries for the police force. The micro enterprises and the SMEs are the majority sector and the worst sufferers due to poor law and order, extortion, gangsterism and the harassment by the miscreants and cannot function fully.
Thaver emphasized the need for environment and law and order for peace of mind for the sector and appreciated the steps taken by the government and the army and the law enforcing agencies and expected good results.
The government needs to work from grass root level and work for the uplift of the micro and the SMEs scientifically with policy , planning and strategy. He was critical of the government lethargy in appointing the chief executive officers and taking action and decisions promptly causing setback to efficient working of the institutions.
Pointing out to corruption he lamented that instead of decreasing it was increasing and needs to be checked immediately from the highest level, the flight of capital is also a very serious issue. The infrastructure is poor and construction and repair work is done only on paper. The officers in connivance with the contractors are indulging in malpractices and there is also nobody to check the institutional corruption everywhere.
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