SME sector’s promotion: President seeks practical suggestions from FPCCI

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has asked Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) to send practical suggestions to help and promote SME’s sector.

He was responding the questions raised by the business community which met him with him and Governor Sindh, under the leadership of President FPPCI, Mian Nasser Hyatt Magoo last week at Governor House, Karachi.

Governor Sindh, Imran Ismail, said that he will arrange meetings of FPCCI with Prime Minister as and when required. He also suggested FPCCI President to send the working points which can be sent to PM for his directions to seek the comments from different line ministries so that partly matters can be resolved and the balance can be resolved in the meeting with PM.

Earlier, sharing his views with President FCPPCI said that government should accord honour and focus consultation with elected members of trade and industry of Pakistan. He further said that in specific SMEs should be focused for interactions instead of present ongoing trend of obliging the individuals and the elites.

He said that elites and individuals would hardly matter anything in supporting the success of governments desiring to be re-elected in time to come.

He also informed the President and Governor that on the issue of budget and taxation, FPCCI wrote a letter to Prime Minister requesting an audience on considering the suggestions sent by FPCCI in respect of simplification of taxation to include in specific SMEs and micro business.

He further informed that Prime Minister replied to FPCCI letter of Feb 13, 2021. The Association was informed by the Secretary to PM on March 11, 2021 that PM has directed Chairman FBR by holding meetings with FPCCI in respect of suggestions on simplification of taxes and make presentation to Prime Minister within 10 days. A format of the presentation was also given to FBR to make presentation accordingly. However, the directions given by Prime Minister could not be matured by FBR and FPCCI’s repeated reminders also could not capture the need of compliance of PM orders by FBR.

President FPCCI suggested that in order to have suggestions of private sector to steer, it is necessary that FPCCI nominees from across the country should be given representation in the Boards of Discos , K- Electric and other public sector entities’ Boards so that informed decisions are taken.

He said, the crises recurring in the country affecting business can also be reduced through consolidated recommendations and stances taken by private sector through nominees on various boards across the country and AJK, GB, FATA, PATA.

The President FPCCI informed the disconnect between FPCCI and Government possibly due to disinformation, which need to be rectified. He said that historically the apex body was very close to the governments and gives input in policy formulation but unfortunately, this is not being done in the incumbent government. He was of the view that consultation was helping governments in arresting the agitations and bad naming in decision making. He was of the view that situation of interactions needs to be restored and PM must respond to marathon meetings and suggestions by SMEs instead of meeting just few elites, individuals and their agents who otherwise politically cannot be allied in strengthening the governments for which it needs popular vote of enlarged group supported by SME and micro businesses.

He informed the Governor that broadening of tax suggested by FPCCI is based on enlarging registration of all gas and electrical connections in category of commercial and industrial use, a part of our suggestions on simplification of taxes through flat, reduced import taxation and single stage GST basis collections.

Engineer Jabbar former Vice President FPCCI said, the module of public private consultation engagements is very old and prevalent in all the countries where national chambers help government in reducing the differences between private sector and public sector through alignment of policies affecting the business in a balance manner in order to generate a win win situation. He also informed that all the governments in past were having regular interactions with the apex body, which appears to be now diluted. He said that the reasons could be that there are few elected people in the line ministries, who could otherwise be in the active consultation with business community.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021