AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Karachi, June 08, 2013 (PPI-OT): The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has welcomed the appointment of Ghulam Murtuza Jatoi as the federal minister for industries and felicitated him and assured him full support and co-operation in strengthening the Small and medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) of which he will become the chairman by virtue of his appointment as federal minister for industries.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the SME sector is confident that Mutuza Jatoi with his vast experience in business and agriculture will be able to resolve the issues of the SME units and SME agobased industries satisfactorily.
A large number of the 96% SMEs are engaged in manufacturing and farming. It is very important that the agro based industries are facilitated to modernize to meet the challenges of the heavy demand of produce items in Pakistan and overseas.
He said the immediate requirement of the sector is energy and requested for exemption in import duty and sales tax on alternate energy systems. The other most important requirement is law and order especially in Sindh and demands the immediate attention of the government.
He invited the attention of the federal minister to the lack of facilities and incentives for the SMEs and urged him to examine the needs of the sector and impress upon the cabinet to give priority to the sector along with housing which will reflect positively on the economy. The housing sector promotes 39 different industries and needs to be facilitated, supported and encouraged.
The union informed the federal minister that the SME policy remains unimplemented and as a result the promised institutions of SME export house, insurance, technical education, venture capital and ombudsman have not been established.
The union urged the minister to expedite the setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and the industrial estates and increase the scope of SEZ to include the various industrial estates to facilitate SME promotion and development.
The union emphasized the need for giving incentives to SMEs and said the sector is the lifeline of Pakistan. The SMEs are engaged in trading, services, manufacturing and farming and each area deserves the best attention of the ministry by virtue of the important economic role played by each.
The union informed the minister that SMEDA is fortunate to have a dynamic chief executive officer in Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera and the union is willing to work with him round the clock for the promotion and development of the sector under the guidance of the minister.
The union reminded the minister that the sector is the backbone of the economy, the engine of growth, the vehicle for employment generation and above all the back forte of the large sector. Most of the countries of the world have recognized the importance of the SME sector and those who have supported this sector vigorously have progressed fast and it is pertinent to note even during the times of recession and depression the sector withstands the turmoil.
For more information, Contact:
Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME)
75/1 3rd Commercial Street,
Phase IV, D.H.A., Karachi, Pakistan
Phones: + 92 35884225 and 6
Cell: + 92 300 8245307 and + 92 321 8245307
Fax: + 92 35380642
Email: unisame@gmail.com