ABBOTTABAD: The business community has demanded of the federal and provincial governments to immediately restore trade activities to give some relief to them, especially the small-time traders.

Talking to mediapersons here on Saturday, the all traders’ union leaders Mohammad Ashfaq and Abdul Hameed Khan Jadoon demanded relaxation in the lockdown by allowing all traders to run their businesses partially. They said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s announcement of incentives for the construction industry was a good omen for the country amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

They suggested that as the lockdown had been extended till April 14 the days should to be divided and allocated to different trade activities. They said businesses dealing with sanitary, paints, hardware, garments, stationery, photocopies, computer, haircut and tailoring should be allowed to open on alternate days.

The trade leaders said the timing for opening of shops should be from 10am till 3pm, and that of grocery stores, restaurants, bakeries and medical stores from 10am till 6pm.

With this planning, there will be restricted movement in the bazaars, they said, adding operation of goods distribution should be allowed round the clock for smooth supplies to the markets.

They said small-time traders and daily wagers had been unable to make both ends meet for last 20 days as no official help had reached them so far.

The trade leaders said about 40 per cent of women had also been rendered jobless due to lockdown, but they were deprived of any government relief package.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2020