ISLAMABAD: Traders have appealed to the governmentto pay the rent of shops that remain closed due to the lockdown, as it was not possible for them to pay the rent and salaries to employees.Moreover, they have also demanded the government should let them open their shops for a few hours, so they could earn a little, otherwise they will be left with no other option but tolayoffemployees.

Trader leader Sarfraz Mughal, who owns a shop in Super Market, told Dawn that he runs a business of watches in a rented shop.

“Unfortunately, because of thecontinuousclosure, my savings are depleting quickly and I don’t think that in a few months I will be in a position to pay rentof the shopand salary to my staff,” he said.

Medical stores, naan shops, fruit and vegetable shops and other shops which sell edible items are open, he said, adding the governmentshould pay rent for furniture, jewellery, workshops etc because it is not possible for traders to pay it.

Another trader, Asif Shafique Chaudhry, said that shops, other than those which sell edible items, should be opened for at least four hours so that traders would not face financial problems.

“I personally know that a number of traders have been telling their staff that they will not be able to pay them salaries next month. I fear that a large number of people will become jobless dueto the currentsituation,” he said.

Trader Niaz Abbasi said that it was necessary to allow all traders to open shops otherwise everyone would suffer.“The government should ensure that every person wears a maskand uses hand sanitisers in shops. There should be fines on violations but businesses should not be stopped,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2020