Businesses to reopen soon: minister

LAHORE:Punjab Minister for Commerce, Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal Tuesday said that an incomplete relief package was given by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for the revival of industries and trade in the backdrop of Covid-19.

The prime minister is going to make a big decision in coming days for resumption and opening of trade and business while the Punjab has already recommended opening of the business and trade related with the Eid festivities. Other than this, the Punjab also suggested opening of the industries related with construction, including steel, pipe, hardware, ceramics, glass, electric equipment, and aluminum. The most important thing is survival of the businesses and trade as it provides employments to millions of people. Further, the Punjab also recommended opening up of all supply chain of the textile industry, besides shops and markets of cloths and clothing. The Punjab government has given relief to the trade industry besides lobbying with the federal government for resumption of economic activities. Further, the government was making efforts to provide relief on electricity bills to small traders and SME sector.

The minister was addressing the business and trade representatives here at regional office of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI). The FPCCI President Mian Anjum Nisar, regional chairman Dr Arshad, Roohi Rizwan, and others represented their respective sectors.

The minister complained that the behaviour of the business community was not supporting the government and they wanted the government make all precautionary arrangements at their workplaces while the businesses should not be responsible for it. He pointed out that the businessmen did not maintain the data about their workers. He asked them to maintain the all labour force data so that the government could help the workers in the need of the hour.

Aslam Iqbal assured that the government was in decision making process for reopening of the businesses and the decisions would come in next few days. He asserted that the government decisions would play a key role in revival of industry and trade by resuming the economic activities in the province. He said that some trade leaders were expressing in a way that the federal and Punjab governments were responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic while it was a global issue. He said the Punjab increased the testing capacity and hoped that the province would control Covid-19.

Aslam Iqbal said it was his wish that businesses would open from today so that the daily wagers could start work to earn their bread and butter. He said the government provided some relief to the labourers through Ehsas Programme while the disbursements of the relief money among the labourers in the second phase of the programme would be launched in ongoing week.

On the occasion, FPCCI President Mian Anjum Nisar said that patience of the business community reached its saturation point and they were unable to keep their businesses close further. He said that the industry and trade could not afford further lockdown while the government was telling the SOPs to them while unable to take action against SOPs violations in fruits and vegetables markets and shops. The huge influx of the people gathered there daily while no coronavirus SOPs are implemented there, he commented. He pointed out the violation of SOPs in banking industry and other public places.

Anjum Nisar said the government was pressuring and disturbing the trader and industry by applying the lockdown. He assured that the trade and industry would strictly implement the government Covid-19 SOPs. He demanded relief for industry from EOBI payments.