The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (Unisame) has appreciated measures taken by the federal finance ministry namely the reduction in duty on 1,870 items, the waiver of sales tax on textiles, carpets, leather, surgical and sports goods items, the lowering of rates of income tax, the incentive of corporatisation for SME firms, the setting up of Business Support Fund for SMEs.
Unisame President Zulfikar Thaver said that SMEs would indeed benefit by the measures taken by the government both directly and indirectly, but he again urged the government not to delay the SME Act, which is completed in all respects and needs legislation and implementation.
He said that SME firms on incorporation should be given tax relief for at least five years. He said the SME sector requires very special attention and unless and until the requirements are met the sector will not be uplifted.
The Unisame members invited the attention of the prime minister to their demand for land at concessional rate, finance at affordable mark-up, supplies of raw material by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and marketing system by the Export Houses. Unisame demanded the establishment of SME Promotion Bureau and the SME Chamber of Commerce.
Unisame members demanded leasing facilities on commercial property for the purchase of shops and workshops. They thanked the prime minister for various measures taken to simplify procedures to make life simple for SMEs.-PR