KARACHI, April 21: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (Unisame) has suggested to the government that if it wants to encourage investment and rapid industrialization then it has to first remove red-tapism and ensure quick response from such departments who are directly responsible for providing infrastructure facilities.

In a statement issued on Monday, the convener of Unisame Zulfikar Thaver said without focusing on infrastructure facilities and providing quick connections of utilities such as electricity, gas, water, telephone and sewerage the prospective investors could not be convinced to make investment in any industrial sector.

Appreciating the services offered by President Pervez Musharraf to work as a bridge between investors and the government, Thaver said it was essential that all bottlenecks should first be removed for attracting investment and setting up of industries.

He suggested that the government should first direct concerned authorities to earmark industrial zones where all sort of utilities should be available so that investors will not have to run from pillar to post for getting these facilities.

The Unisame convener further said that it was equally important that the government should give tax holiday and allow duty free import of new and reconditioned plants and machinery.

The third important factor for encouraging investment, he said was the upliftment of small and medium sector which is the backbone and engine of growth.

He said that Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda) should keep ready the working papers of turnkey projects of various industries to offer them to the prospective investors and should also coordinate with other government agencies and SMEs.