FPCCI opposes Covid restrictions, asks including nominee in Sindh task force

KARACHI: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Monday raised objections against the new SOPs being enforced by Sindh from this week, and demanded the government to take the chambers’ nominees onboard the provincial Covid Task Force.

FPCCI President Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo said they were the main stakeholders in the province, and therefore should have a nominee in the task force. “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.”

He demanded Sindh government to consult with the FPCCI before implementing any SOPs in the province. Maggo said the federal government should formulate uniform SOPs and Covid-related policies, which should be adopted across the country in all provinces.

Speaking of the effects of Covid restrictions on restaurant business, the FPCCI president said the sector was one of the most affected sectors and had lost most of its employment generation capacity.

“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,” he added.

FPCCI VP Ather Sultan Chawla, who is also the convener of All Pakistan Restaurant Association (APRA), said that NCOC knows that the restaurant industry has done its best to vaccinate its workforce and most of the restaurants in Karachi have vaccinated more than 90 percent of their workforce.

He claimed that it was scientifically incorrect to imply that dine-out has contributed to the spread of Covid cases in Pakistan.

APRA Patron Shaukat Omerson said many restaurants in Sindh would have to close down their operations permanently if the government of Sindh did not listen and act on their legitimate concerns.

APRA Chairman Babar Nehal said restaurants were 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”.

Private Schools Alliance Chairman Aleem Qureshi strongly disagreed with the closure of schools in Sindh yet again, and informed that in the rest of the world, schools have been opened on priority basis, “while in Pakistan we are going in opposite direction”. Adding a voice to the same concerns, traders also urged to review the restrictions.

Tajir Action Committee’s Rizwan Irfan said that tajir community has already requested Sindh government to resolve the issues arising out of new restrictions in 72 hours, and help with their community’s survival.

Karachi Tajir Alliance member Khawaja Jamal Sethi demanded that instead of 6am to 6pm, the government of Sindh should allow markets to open from 8am to 8pm, while keeping one day as closed, instead of two days.

Maggo in his concluding remarks expressed his willingness to help businesses as well as the government to resolve disputes in an amicable and mutually-beneficial manner.