KARACHI: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged the government to give priority to agro-based industries in view of the precarious condition caused due to the crisis in the food industry.

President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the government should announce a list of agro-based industries, give tax relief, provide finance at affordable mark-up, and technical support at nominal cost for setting up agro-based industries in all rural areas of Pakistan.

He said considering the fact that the country is resorting to import of agro-based products and is paying a heavy import bill, “it is about high time we look into the establishment of setting up industries rapidly and make all-out efforts for the promotion and development of agro-based industries on war footing.”

The union chief pointed out that there is vast demand and scope for the manufacturing, processing and packing of food, dehydration of vegetables and fruits, dairy products, by products of agricultural items and grains and pulses. And to exploit the items commercially, there should be integrated efforts from different SME promotion institutions to make it successful.