March 14, 2007	Wednesday	Safar 24, 1428

KARACHI, March 13: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (Unisame) has asked Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan to take note of unbridled import of such goods that are manufactured locally as it has threatened survival of many small and medium-sized industries.

Unisame President Zulfikar Thaver in a press statement on Tuesday said that it was very disturbing and shameful that even bread and cakes were being imported.

He further said that a survey carried out by Union of Small and Medium Enterprises’ team of experts revealed that items of general merchandise, garments, foodstuffs, stationery, footwear and toys were being imported in bulk and were being dumped into the local market.

Mr Thaver said that so much so even perishable goods were being imported in bulk like fish, beef, butter, cheese, canned fruits etc.

In view of the alarming increase in imports and falling exports the trade deficit had risen by 18.47 per cent and it was apprehended that if the present state of affairs continued then the local industries would suffer setback.

The Unisame experts feel that payment of swelling import bill would be made by selling precious assets.

They said the government had already proposed to sell important and strategic assets like PIA, Railways, Steel Mill, PSO and many others.

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises experts had urged the commerce minister to take immediate measures to check import of these items for the protection of local industry.

The Unisame president also called upon the SMEs to set up industries and enter into manufacturing process with the assistance of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda), PCSIR, EDB and other institutions who were willing to help and support new industrial establishments.