Lahore, May 29, 2023 (PPI-OT): The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) have agreed to join hands to create conducive policy environment for development of SME sector in the country. Mr. Farhan Aziz Khawaja, CEO SMEDA and Ms. Rahat Kaunain Hassan, Chairperson of the CCP in a brainstorming session, held today at SMEDA head office, derived a set of common goals for economic prosperity of the country through SME development. The others who attended this meeting from both the organizations include Mr. Nadia Jehangir Seth, GM Policy Planning division and Mr. Sheharyar Tahir, Head External Relations Department of SMEDA. The CCP Chairperson was accompanied by Ms. Maryam Zafar, Joint Director of CCP on this occasion.
CEO SMEDA proposed to form a joint group for ensuring achievements of the common goal of creating level playing field for sustainable growth of SMEs in the country. He also urged to exchange the research work conducted in both the organizations. He informed, SMEDA is going to launch its latest research report regarding Income Tax Regime on SMEs at Islamabad on coming Thursday. He hoped that the report would help government to ease income tax on SMEs.
Earlier, Ms. Rahat Kaunain Hassan, highlighting the vision of her organization said that CCP was striving hard to provide fair play for businesses to enhance economic efficiency and to protect consumers from anticompetitive practices. For this purpose, she said that the Commission was trying to enforce law without fear and favour for creating a level playing field for business in the country, the biggest part of which exists in the SME sector.
Ms. Nadia Jehangir Seth, GM SMEDA gave a detailed presentation on SMEDA initiatives regarding promotion and development of SMEs. She also gave an overview of SME Policy-2021 and identified the areas of common interests for cohesion of SMEDA and CCP. Heads of both the organizations wooed to raise synchronized voice for having conducive policy environment and easy access to finance for micro, small and medium enterprises in the country.
For more information, contact:
DGM (Admin. and PR)
Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA)
4th Floor, Building No.3, Aiwan-e-Iqbal Complex,
Egerton Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-111-456
Fax: +92-42-36304926-7
Email: aligohar@smeda.org.pk, helpdesk@smeda.org.pk
Website: www.smeda.org.pk