ISLAMABAD: As many as 36,300 restaurants have been forced to wind up throughout the country due to lockdown and ban on dining, claims the All Rawalpindi Restaurants and Hotels Association.

Addressing a press conference, the association's general secretary, Chaudhry Mohammad Farooq, said due to closure of the restaurants, 1.27 million people have been rendered jobless.

He said the unemployed workers' families were bearing the brunt, as they were unable to meet their expenses and pay the children's school fees.

The association's president, Mumtaz Ahmed, said the PTI had promised 10 million jobs but had instead deprived over 10 million people of their livelihood.

He further said the government had introduced discriminatory policy for restaurants of the twin cities as in Islamabad outdoor dining was allowed whereas in Rawalpindi both indoor and outdoor dining were completely banned.

He also announced that a protest movement would be started from April 11 against the government for paying no heed to their demands.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2021