ISLAMABAD: Opposing the new Covid-19 related restrictions, the business community of the federal capital on Monday called upon the government to withdraw them immediately to save the businesses from further losses.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club (NPC), Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, president Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) said the decision would hit the businesses that were already struggling for revival due to the previous lockdowns.

He was flanked by business leaders, including Ajmal Baloch, president of All Pakistan Anjuman-i-Tajiran.

The ICCI president said in the current tough times, businesses needed relief measures from the government in taxes, interest rates, loans and utility charges. But instead of providing any relief, the government was taking measures that would put the businesses into deep troubles.

Say closing markets on weekends will add to rush on other days

He said that the customers normally do shopping on weekends. However, he appreciated the role of Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat and his team for playing a frontline role against the spread of Covid-19 and cooperating with the business community in running business activities.

“But closing businesses on Saturdays and Sundays will not only create problems for customers, it would also cause more rush in markets on other days and lead to further increase in the Covid-19 cases,” Mr Khan said.

“On behalf of the whole community, I demand that businesses should be allowed to remain open on weekends to avoid rush and curb the spread of coronavirus.”

The leaders of the business community said instead of closing businesses on weekends, the capital administration should focus on enforcement of SOPs. They said the business community would fully cooperate with the administration in implementation of the SOPs while running business activities.

They said traders will not allow any customer to enter shops without wearing a mask.

Ajmal Baloch said that due to previous lockdowns and restrictions, businesses had already suffered huge losses while the government had not provided any compensation to them.

He said the closure of businesses would render thousands of people jobless; therefore, the new restrictions should be withdrawn.

They said the government should form a new strategy against the pandemic by taking the business community on board.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2021