Owners of small factories have urged the government to impose a ban on the supply and trade of plastic and rubber slipper scraps from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Afghanistan.

According to a press statement, received by WealthPK, the factory owners also called for the abolishment of property tax on Peshawar’s Small Industrial Estate (SIE).

A delegation from the Small Industrial Estate Association Kohat Road Peshawar, led by former president Engr Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz and the association's president Wahid Arif Awan, made these demands during a meeting with President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hasnain Khurshid Ahmad at the chamber's house.

The delegation informed SCCI's president of small manufacturers' concerns about the collection of property tax from SIE Kohat Road in Peshawar, the supply of plastic and rubber slipper scrap from KP to Afghanistan, and other issues. 

Engr. Maqsood Pervaiz stated that KPEZDMC has eliminated the industrial estate's property tax, which is a very commendable step. However, he urged the Small Industrial Development Board (SIDB) to follow suit and exempt the small industrial estate of Kohat Road, Peshawar, from such taxation in order to make the incumbent provincial government's vision of promoting industrialization in KP a reality.

Pervaiz expressed grave concern about KP's export of tons of plastic and rubber scrap to Afghanistan, claiming that the trade is not in the best interests of small industrialists because it deprives them of valuable raw materials.

He urged customs and relevant authorities to impose an immediate ban on exports to Afghanistan in order to protect local manufacturers' interests and prevent them from incurring massive financial losses. 

On the occasion, the association's office bearers demanded that the SIDB build a canteen for staff working at SIE, Kohat Road, Peshawar.

In addition to Senior Vice President Imran Mohmand, Vice President Javed Akhtar, small factory owners and other office bearers of the association were in attendance.

Later, in response to various queries and concerns raised by small industrialists, SCCI president Hasnain Khurshid Ahmad assured that the chamber would raise all of these concerns with appropriate government officials.

Khurshid noted that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have played an important role in the country's economic development; therefore, he urged the federal and provincial governments to resolve their issues on a priority basis and assist them at all levels.

The chamber's president emphasized that it is the government's primary responsibility to provide facilities to investors and remove barriers to business and trade in order to boost the local economy and create as many job opportunities as possible in the country.  He emphasised the necessity of amicable resolution of issues faced by small manufacturers.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk