SIALKOT, June 30: Surgical Instrument Manufacturers Association (SIMA) chairman Naeem Anwar Qureshi has expressed grave concern over the high rate of mark-up on loans to the exporters.

He told newsmen here on Friday that due to certain factors, the exporters were already under financial crunch and to add more woes, the government has slowly raised the mark-up rates to the level where cost for the exporters became unbearable.

He claimed that the mark-up rates for the exporters were the highest in the region. “On top of that, high utilities cost is making the situation worst. Surgical instruments exporters are complaining that they are losing competitive edge due to these factors,” SIMA chairman said.

He urged the federal government to reconsider its decision and provide finance to the exporters at maximum 5 per cent mark-up as it would provide them a ground to initiate new projects and bring more employment and foreign exchange to the country.k