Karachi: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged trade bodies, chambers, and industry associations in Pakistan to refrain from engaging in national politics and instead focus their efforts on promoting trade, commerce, and industry.

According to Union of Small and Medium Enterprises, Zulfikar Thaver, the President of UNISAME, emphasized that trade associations should prioritize serving the collective economic interests of their members, which includes advocacy on issues such as taxation, tariffs, energy costs, ease of doing business, exports, and access to finance. Thaver stated that when associations align themselves with political disputes, they risk losing their credibility as neutral and technical voices that can engage with any government, irrespective of party affiliations.

Thaver pointed out that the business community itself is varied in its political affiliations, and any association adopting a particular political stance may risk creating divisions within its membership, thereby weakening its negotiating power with policymakers and regulators. He clarified that associations should not remain silent on government policies, noting that commenting on budgets, tax measures, energy tariffs, or trade agreements falls within their mandate, as these directly impact industry and trade. However, he stressed that associations should refrain from commenting on party politics, elections, or personalities to maintain their impartiality.

UNISAME, as an SME forum, has called on trade bodies to reinforce this principle within their own charters and conduct. This approach aims to ensure that the business community can present a unified, credible, and non-partisan voice on critical issues affecting small and medium enterprises and the broader economy, such as growth, employment, exports, and investment.