17 September 2004	Friday	01 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Sept 16: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (Unisame) has planned to set up a body that could directly take up the issues confronting small and medium enterprises to ensure their fast growth and development.

Since there was no bar from the government for setting up an institute in the private sector on the pattern of Khidmat committees, therefore, Unisame President Zulfikar Thaver has sought approval from the office-bearers of the union.

An urgent meeting of the Unisame held on Thursday decided to form an institute for "promotion and development of SMEs" on the pattern of Khidmat committees all over the country.

The office-bearers also suggested that Industries and Production Minister Jehangir Tareen be taken as patron-in-chief with senior government officials, head of banks and development financial institutions as patrons along with consultants from professional bodies.

Appreciating the role of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda), the Unisame president said the authority was capable of lending great support and technical knowledge not only to SMEs but all the stakeholders. However, Mr Thaver said that SMEs needed direct interaction and motivation and needed to be contacted frequently to sort out their problems.

Consequently, a body set up on the pattern of Khidmat committees could be a best way out to get quick results for the growth and promotion of SMEs that are too weak to run from pillar to post or approach high-ups in the government departments.

He said Unisame had outlined major aims and objectives for the SME sector, which included coordination, planning and programming, building industrial estates involving the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.