Islamabad: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has called on Socrat Aman Rana, the CEO of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), to effectively represent the interests of SMEs to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. UNISAME emphasized the necessity for SMEDA to transition from a mere advisory role to a more dynamic, development-focused entity to foster rapid economic growth.

According to Union of Small and Medium Enterprises, President Zulfikar Thaver highlighted the enhanced role of SMEDA in direct communications with the Prime Minister. Thaver expressed concerns over SMEDA’s current effectiveness, stressing that without a robust representation of SME needs, the authority fails to fulfill its foundational purpose of promoting and developing the sector. Thaver suggested the establishment of an export window and a coordination committee within SMEDA to address the urgent requirements of SMEs more efficiently.

Thaver further outlined several critical areas for immediate attention to support SMEs, including the facilitation of international payment gateways like PayPal by the State Bank of Pakistan, the introduction of ‘Pay as you earn schemes’, and more aggressive efforts in asset-based financing and export support facilities. He also called for the involvement of the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Engineering Development Board in expediting support for SMEs. Additionally, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan was mentioned as a potential partner in developing free global marketing services for SMEs.

The Planning Commission was urged to bridge technological gaps through partnerships under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Thaver reiterated the urgency of these measures, stating that the SME sector faces significant challenges that, if unaddressed, could hinder its recovery and development.