Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has requested the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to open a new institute for printing and packaging technology in Pakistan.

The union has suggested that the institute should be funded from the Export Development Surcharge (EDS).

The new institute will impart training to the staff in small and medium sized units that would help the businesses to improve printing and packaging services.

Unisame president Zulfikar Thaver said one of reasons the products of SME units are not prominent on shelves in foreign superstores is their poor packaging.

According to the union, the Pakistani products have potential to occupy bigger share in halal products in gulf, Middle East, Europe and America, but are lagging behind due to less attractive packing.

Thaver has also asked the government to facilitate the SMEs wishing to import packaging machinery by financing imports under leasing and to reduce import duty and sales tax on packing materials to promote the packing and printing units.