APBUMA demands elimination of cartels, mafias to put national economy on sound footing

FAISALABAD-All Pakistan Bed-sheets and Upholstery Manufactures Association (APBUMA) has demanded the government to eradicate cartels and mafias for putting the national economy on a sound footing. Talking to the media on Sunday, APBUMA Senior Vice Chairman Engineer Bilal Jamil said that due to government policies and especially the dynamic and active role of the SME sector, the national exports were witnessing a monthly increase of 2 billion dollars but the mafia created artificial shortage of yarn in the country to put it in back-gear. He termed the SME sector as growth engine for national economy and said that big cartels and mafias were stealing all benefits while those working with little capital were deprived of this facility. The government should adopt a mechanism to ensure that every person who contributes to exports gets his fair share of subsidy, he said. He said the APBUMA was the largest organisation in the SME sector with a share of 1.5 billion dollars in the total textile exports of 12 billion dollars which needs special attention by the government. However, he appreciated the serious efforts of Advisor to the Prime Minister Abdur Razak Dawood and said that he was trying to resolve problems of SME sector on a permanent and sustainable basis. He said that apart from conducting regular seminars and workshops for the awareness of APBUMA members, he was also striving for industry-academia lectures so that they could be shifted from traditional textiles to technical textiles. “There are vast opportunities for growth in this sector, but our members are reluctant to adopt new technology, even though they can earn millions by investing very little money on new technology,” he said and demanded that the government should also give extra incentives to encourage SME sector. Bilal Jamil said the problem of yarn industry was very serious but so far no positive progress had been witnessed in this regard though it was a lifeline and issue of death for SME sector. He said that he had held several meetings with Abdul Razak Dawood to resolve the issue while other trade associations in Faisalabad should also support him in this regard. Responding to a question, Engineer Bilal Jamil said that only the SME sector could achieve the proposed targets of textile policy. He also demanded immediate action against hoarders for immediate elimination of yarn shortage and said that such elements should be punished severely over creating artificial shortage under the garb of charging arbitrary prices of yarn. 

He also asked the journalists to highlight their issues at national level so that government could take appropriate steps to resolve their legitimate issues. He said that his organisation was against the mafia which had taken the economy hostage. If the government takes action against cartels and mafias, then the entire SME sector would fully support it, he added.