SMEs continue to face harassment

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of Karachi are facing hardships due to continued harassment by government agencies concerned with social security, say businessmen.

Speaking at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Monday, North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI) President Faisal Moiz said that SMEs of North Karachi were facing immense hardships owing to harassment by corrupt officials of state-owned departments.

He pointed out that North Karachi housed the largest number of SMEs in Karachi and those businesses played a vital role in economic development of the country.

“It is high time that the SMEs, which are dealing with around 22 government agencies, get relief,” he stressed. “We have to stage strong protest against this injustice so that relevant authorities can take notice and deal with the problem.”

He suggested that in order to minimise the grievances faced by the industries and SMEs, the government must look into the possibility of introducing a one-window facility as businessmen and industrialists were fed up with dealing with multiple agencies coupled with cumbersome procedures.

Highlighting the achievements of NKATI, Moiz pointed out that under the public-private initiative, in cooperation with the government of Sindh, the infrastructure of North Karachi industrial area had improved.

Speaking on the occasion, KCCI President Shariq Vohra assured the SMEs of full support and cooperation in resolving the issues created by numerous government agencies. He stressed that the KCCI should be notified of all the grievances being faced by the industrialists and SMEs so those could be discussed with relevant authorities and resolved on a priority basis.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2020.

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