Traders urge COAS to allow them to open businesses on 14th

RAWALPINDI. All Pakistan Traders Association (APTA) through a letter has demanded Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa to allow opening of all business activities after April 14.

They have expressed strong concerns over the critical economic crisis perpetrating due to the prolonged corona lockdown in the country. Addressing a press conference held here on Sunday, All Pakistan Traders Association (APTA) President Muhammad Kashif Chaudhry has demanded that government must finalise SOPs for comprehensive precautionary measures to be adopted by traders to restart their business activities from April 14, 2020. “However, if immediate decision was not taken, the starvation will over-shadow the threats of corona virus”, he warned and added that this situation may also force unemployed daily wage earners to indulge in loot and plunder.

All Pakistan Traders Association (Punjab) President Sharjeel Mir has strongly criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to open construction industry from April 14. “Our Prime Minister is disturbed could not take decision, he should completely lockdown or open all business activities in the country from April 14,” he said. He said that we wrote a letter to prime minister but vain so we are writing another letter to Chief of Army Staff General Bajwa to open all businesses in the country from April 14.

He said that corona related lockdown was started from March 24 and during last 20 days; the government has taken commendable measures to contain the pandemic but without considering its side effect on our social and economic life. He told that in addition to the daily wage earners the white collared trading class is also now feeling the heat of continuous lockdown.