The draft of the SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) policy would be announced shortly after its approval by the cabinet, the Chief Executive Officer of Smeda (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority) Shahab Khawaja said here on Saturday.
During a meeting with the Senior Vice President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Abdul Majeed Memon here, he said the draft has been completed and was submitted to the concerned quarters for its approval and announcement.
Regarding the complaints of non-co-operative attitude of certain officials of Smeda, he said any attitude shown by the Smeda officials towards the Chamber members would be taken care of. He directed General Manager Smeda who was accompanying him to the KCCI visit to take necessary action against the officials who have some attitude problem.
He said such behaviour was not desirable in the Smeda. He added that we consider KCCI as our close ally and suggested providing a space in chamber to set up Smeda''s facilitation office to help its members.
Earlier, Vice President of the KCCI, Abdul Majeed Memon said the SME policy of the government was long awaited and should be announced at the earliest after its approval from the concerned quarters.
He said in the previous year''s budget announcements, SME sector was given special preference and termed as one of the drivers of the economic growth, but he added, till now budgetary measures could not be implemented, as SME policy could not get through.
He was of the view that the SME sector should be given tax holidays, exemption from all types of industrial and labour inspection and offered soft loans without collateral so that this sector could register prompt and meaningful growth.
He also suggested that the bureaucratic attitude of officials of the Smeda should be discouraged and a dynamic and proactive approach must be adopted to make the body more effective and businessman-friendly.