FPCCI hails govt package

ISLAMABAD: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Saturday welcomed the government’s Rs100 billion packages offered to the local industries following the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

FPCCI President Anjum Nisar hailed the package, while urging the government to take preventive measures and develop strategies to protect the pace of economic and trade progress, while keeping in view the effects of the global economies. Nisar said the whole world including the potential market of Europe Union was affected by the new coronavirus, which was the second biggest trade destination for Pakistan after the GSP Plus offered by EU in 2013. In this regard, the government should conduct studies to mitigate the effects of economic changes, he said.

Replying to a question, he said that due to the novel coronavirus, the business community all over the country has adopted all necessary measures as directed by the government to control the pandemic.

The FPCCI president said that due to the virus issue, businesses and industrial units had been closed, but they had to pay the monthly commercial bills of gas and electricity, which were adding to their difficulties.

He also appealed to the government that receipt of commercial bills of gas and electricity from business and industry should be deferred for few months so the business community could cope with the current crisis.

He said the country was in lockdown due to which markets and industrial units were closed. However, the business community had to pay wages of workers and meet day to day expenses as well, he added.