Karachi: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has called on the government to provide financial relief in the upcoming 2025/2026 fiscal budget, emphasizing the need to support underprivileged sectors and senior citizens.

Zulfikar Thaver, President of UNISAME, voiced concerns about the high taxes imposed on SME exporters. He warned that the current tax burden threatens the sustainability of these enterprises, potentially leading to closures and negating years of effort and reputation-building.

In addition to advocating for SMEs, UNISAME highlighted the financial challenges faced by senior citizens. Many retirees, reliant on limited pension incomes and savings, struggle with increasing medical expenses, healthcare costs, and rising prices for essential goods and services.

The UNISAME Council has made an appeal to policymakers, urging them to consider tax reductions for SMEs, the salaried class, and senior citizens. The council emphasized that as a welfare state, Pakistan has a responsibility to ease financial burdens on its citizens, rather than exacerbate them with excessive taxation.