KARACHI – Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo – President FPCCI – has objected on the new SOPs being enforced in Sindh from Monday. FPCCI demands that its nominees must be taken into Sindh’s COVID task force; as they are the main stakeholders in the province.
President FPCCI added that being the apex representative body of business, industry and trade community of Pakistan, we are receiving innumerable complaints regarding ease of doing business being turned upside down in the name of COVID SOPs.
Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo has demanded that the Government of Sindh should consult with FPCCI immediately and the Government of Sindh should invite its nominees in the meetings of task force on COVID before announcing any SOPs. He suggested that the Government of Pakistan should adopt a uniform policy on SOPs and restrictions; and, all provinces should have same SOPs.
Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo maintained that restaurant sector is one of the most affected sector as this sector has lost most of its employment generation capacity. He said that the government of Pakistan should support the sector in a way the government supports the construction sector as restaurants generate most employment opportunities after the construction sector.
Mr. Ather Sultan Chawla – VP FPCCI & Convener APRA – said that NCOC knows that restaurants industry has done its best to vaccinate its workforce and most of the restaurants in Karachi have vaccinated more than 90% of its workforce. He said that this is scientifically incorrect to imply that dine-out has contributed in spread of COVID cases in Pakistan.
Mr. Shaukat Omerson – Patron APRA – said that many restaurants in Sindh will have to close down their operations permanently; if the Government or Sindh does not listen and act on the their legitimate concerns.
Mr. Babar Nehal – Chairman APRA – said that restaurants are more than willing to cooperate with the government; but, the government must let the restaurants operate dine-out and dine-in under strict observance of SOPs.
Mr. Aleem Qureshi – Chairman Private Schools Alliance – strongly disagreed with closure of the schools in Sindh yet again and informed that in rest of the world schools have been opened on priority basis; while in Pakistan we are going in opposite direction.
Mr. Rizwan Irfan – Tajir Action Committee –said that tajir community has already requested the Government of Sindh to resolve the issues arising out of new restrictions in 72 hours and help tajir community to survive.
Khawaja Jamal Sethi – Karachi Tajir Alliance – demanded that instead of 6am to 6pm the Government of Sindh should allow markets to open from 8am to 8pm and keep one day as closed day instead of two days as closed days.
Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo – President FPCCI – in his concluding remarks expressed his willingness to help businesses and government to resolve their disputes in an amicable and mutually-beneficial manner through the platform of FPCCI.
