The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has complained to the newly appointed Administrator of  Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP)  by the Secretary Ministry of Commerce (MINCOM)  that regular SME rice exporters members on renewal of  their membership have been classified as associate members merely because they are not holding sales tax registration which is not of much consequence in rice export except for those who claim rebate on packing material.

President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver has invited the attention of the MINCOM to the fact that REAP has shown discrimination by placing SME rice exporters in a separate category and deprived them of their rights of voting for the managing committee by labeling them as associate members and treating them as inferior members and side tracking them in this fashion.

According to the amended articles of association of REAP the associate members are not eligible to vote for the managing committee members but can only vote for their associate members representative

He said the SME rice exporters paid the same amount of membership renewal fees and some of them are old members since inception but despite their seniority they have been listed as associate members and side lined.

He said this is unfair and the SME rice exporters are dejected and feel left out of the mainstream and moreover it will affect their export business as the foreign buyers on visiting the website of REAP will witness the fact that the SME rice exporters are categorized and placed in an inferior position.

He urged the Administrator  to take notice of the fact promptly and rectify the situation promptly in the best interest of justice and not compel the SME rice exporters to form their own group.