UNISAME URGES SMEDA TO SUBMIT ” MAKE IN PAKISTAN” TO GOVERNMENT BEFORE BUDGET

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) resolved to create awareness and work for the uplift of the sector by identifying the impediments to the sector and suggesting remedies in a meeting held at a local club to draw the attention of the policy makers and seek priority for the sector.

President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver appreciating the efforts of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government to revive the economy said the measures taken to reduce the discount rate, the reduction in oil prices and controlling law and order are proving good and the business community is confident it will improve further to benefit the economy.

It is now very important for the government to reduce taxes and broaden the tax network, it is also very essential for the government to promote industrialization, modernize agriculture and begin campaign ” make in Pakistan ” . He offered help in promoting the make in Pakistan programme and also urged the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to submit a plan 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 has superior farm produce than India and our 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 UNISAME is a forum which is 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 is 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 fully well that the micro and SMEs are in the majority and without uplifting the majority sector the economy is not going to grow has not taken sufficient measures to uplift the sector. They pointed out that there is lethargy in the governments approach.

The participants spoke with emphasis on their requirements of finance, energy, environment, facilitation, supply chain, protection, exemptions, 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 centres. 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 centres.

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 programme 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.

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