Lahore, July 29, 2008
 
Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Advisor to Prime Minister/Federal Minister of Industries and Production has appreciated performance of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and assured to extend the fullest support from government to strengthen the organization for economic development of Pakistan. While taking the first briefing on SMEDA by its CEO Mr. Shaihid Rashid at head office of the organization, the Minister acknowledged that SMEDA was on top of a few government bodies which were honored in the private sector with plausible comments.
 
Mian Manzoor Wattoo observed that some of the corporations working under the Ministry of Industries and Production were performing the similar functions. He desired unification of such corporations into two or three major organizations so as to enhance their effectiveness in a cost effective manner.
 
The Minister further pointed out that the Utility Store Corporation (USC) needed a lot of improvement. He evinced keen interest to turn the corporation into a real public  welfare enterprise. He was confident that the corporation would be able to extend valuable services to the people of Pakistan by re-organizing its strengths. He advised SMEDA to conduct a study for revamping USC on modern line.
 
Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo lamented that Pakistan despite being an agriculture county was forced to import Wheat, edible Oil and Agriculture seeds. He asked SMEDA to expand its interventions in agribusiness areas. He advised SMEDA to develop a strategy for increasing indigenous production of seeds, especially the corn seed to make it available to farmers in abundant quantity on cheaper rates
 
Earlier, Mr. Shahid Rashid, CEO SMEDA, giving a presentation to the Minister on services, projects and organizational structure of SMEDA, informed that SMEDA had undertaken 16 Public Sector Development Projects, apart from devising sector development strategies and providing Business Development Services to SMEs.

 
Mr. Sultan Tiwana, GM, Business & Sector Development Services, Syed Iqbal Anwar Kidwai, GM, Outreach, Mr. Muhammad Jamil Afaqi, GM Policy and Planning, Mr. Iftikhar Hussain, GM, Central Support, Mr. Alamgir Chaudhry, Principal Chief SMEDA-Punjab, Mr. Khalid Kifah, DGM Technical services, Mr. Fayyaz Riaz, In charge Industry Support Cell, Mr. Liaqat Ali Gohar, Senior Manager Marketing and Public Relations, Mr. Salman Khalid, Project Director IIN, Raja Hasanein Javaid, Manager Financial Services and Mr. Asim Saeed, Manager Policy and Planning were also present on this occasion.
 
 
Liaqat Ali Gohar
Senior Manager PR & Marketing