KARACHI: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (Unisame) expressed disappointment over the economic advisory committee not having a single representative of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector, a statement said on Friday.

Unisame President Zulfikar Thaver while felicitating Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif on constituting the 22 member economic advisory committee, lamented that the committee will remain incomplete without the representation of the under-privileged sector.

He stressed that it is very necessary that the SME policy is implemented in letter and spirit and priority is given to the sector, saying that the sector is acknowledged as the backbone of the economy and a tool for poverty alleviation.

The majority sector is facing challenges due to depreciation of the rupee, high cost of production while inflation is also crippling as it is reducing buying power and affecting sales and services, he added.

There is no marketing support from the government and the burden of taxation is unbearable, he said, adding that without a representative from the SME sector the committee will have nobody to speak to about the challenges of the under-privileged and the billionaires will highlight their vested interest.

The Unisame Council urged the prime minister to include at least one member from the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) and one from Unisame to fill the much needed representation from the SME sector.