Karachi: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) held a meeting with the Jaggery Manufacturers Association of Pakistan (JMAP) to examine their demand for lifting ban on export and to advocate for allowing for export of Jaggery to global countries.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver urged the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority ( SMEDA) to study their genuine demand and take up the matter with the ministry of commerce (MINCOM) promptly as the SME jaggery manufacturers are in turmoil due to their sugarcane stocks which are piling up due to unfair behaviour of the sugar mills who are deliberately not lifting the cane and pressurizing the SME farmers to sell below cost.
Secondly since there is demand of jaggery from all over the world as it is considered health food and is organic unlike sugar which is refined and processed and treated with chemicals and preservatives.
Umair Nawaz the chairman of JMAP accompanied by general secretary Hamza Ali Khan said jaggery is being smuggled to various countries and it would be wise allow exports as the country will earn valuable foreign exchange. Secondly the SME farmers will modernize their units and pack the Jaggery in attractive packing as per international standards. Thirdly they said there is ample sugar cane and it would be a wise step to allow exports and promote this sector.
Zain Khandwala, a leading jaggery trader, said the Liaquatpur market is the biggest Gur market in Asia and there is surplus of jaggery and Pakistan’s quality is much appreciated the world over. He emphasized that the Jaggery sector must be promoted and encouraged to enable it to grow on modern lines.