UNISAME Appreciates Industrial Growth Committee but Flags Omission of SME Representation**
The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s initiative to form a high-powered committee aimed at reviving industrial growth. However, the association has raised serious concerns over the exclusion of a representative from the SME sector, calling it a significant oversight.
UNISAME President Zulfikar Thaver emphasized that the absence of SME representation in the committee is a major misstep. *”At a time when large-scale industries are facing challenges, the medium enterprise sector remains the most dynamic and productive segment of Pakistan’s economy,”* he stated. He further highlighted that a substantial portion of the country’s value-added industries are operated by medium-sized enterprises.
Thaver noted that the PM may not be fully aware of the sector’s vast potential and its deep roots in Pakistan. Unlike big industrialists—many of whom have relocated capital and operations abroad—medium entrepreneurs remain steadfastly committed to the country. *”While Dubai hosts numerous wealthy Pakistani businessmen with offices, residences, and bank accounts, not a single medium entrepreneur has left Pakistan. These enterprises travel globally to expand exports and explore innovations, yet their focus remains on investing in their homeland,”* he added.
UNISAME has consistently urged the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to actively promote, support, and facilitate medium and higher-medium enterprises, which are eager to establish new industrial ventures in Pakistan. Unfortunately, instead of empowering this vibrant sector, the government continues to overlook its contributions.
Thaver pointed out that while the committee includes advocates and accountants, it lacks representation from the medium or higher-medium enterprise sector—a critical stakeholder in industrial revival. He urged the PM to promptly appoint a UNISAME representative to ensure the committee receives expert guidance on viable industries, their scope, and untapped opportunities.
Additionally, UNISAME’s Union Council (UC) members have proposed the establishment of import-substitution industries through public-private partnerships to reduce reliance on foreign goods. They have also recommended forming a dedicated subcommittee under UNISAME and SMEDA to promote light engineering industries for locally producible goods currently being imported.
Earlier, UNISAME had submitted proposals for manufacturing solar panels and agricultural/commercial drones in collaboration with Chinese technology partners, the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), and leading engineering institutions in Pakistan.
*”The PM’s vision for industrial revival is commendable, but the committee must include experts who truly understand the sector’s dynamics,”* Thaver concluded.
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