Trade bodies urged to look after interests of SMEs
FBR alleged to be disregarding the SME Policy.
KARACHI:
The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged the trade associations to work for the cause of their SME members vigorously with devotion and dedication just like they work for the cause of their members belonging to the large sector.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said most of the trade bodies have a majority of SME members yet they ignore the issues of the sector and plead the cause of the majority sector with the ministries of commerce, finance and industries.
He said that none of the trade bodies took up the matter of relief for the sector in terms of the SME definition which clearly states the parameters of employment strength, turnover and productive assets.
He said that entrepreneurs employing up to 250 employees, having a turnover of less than Rs300 million and productive assets of Rs100 million are considered SMEs and under the SME policy are entitled to relief where ever applicable.
He lamented that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has disregarded the uniform legal definition and only allowed relief up to a turnover of Rs50 million and issued notifications that SMEs having a turnover of more than Rs50 millions are liable to act as withholding agents and deduct withholding tax from the suppliers and deposit it in the treasury. He urged the trade bodies to take up the matter with the FBR.
The Union has offered to help the trade bodies and urged the trade bodies in this regard.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2011.
The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged the trade associations to work for the cause of their SME members vigorously with devotion and dedication just like they work for the cause of their members belonging to the large sector.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said most of the trade bodies have a majority of SME members yet they ignore the issues of the sector and plead the cause of the majority sector with the ministries of commerce, finance and industries.
He said that none of the trade bodies took up the matter of relief for the sector in terms of the SME definition which clearly states the parameters of employment strength, turnover and productive assets.
He said that entrepreneurs employing up to 250 employees, having a turnover of less than Rs300 million and productive assets of Rs100 million are considered SMEs and under the SME policy are entitled to relief where ever applicable.
He lamented that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has disregarded the uniform legal definition and only allowed relief up to a turnover of Rs50 million and issued notifications that SMEs having a turnover of more than Rs50 millions are liable to act as withholding agents and deduct withholding tax from the suppliers and deposit it in the treasury. He urged the trade bodies to take up the matter with the FBR.
The Union has offered to help the trade bodies and urged the trade bodies in this regard.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2011.