The business and agricultural segments are of vital importance to bring the country out of the present economic and health crisis and the government is ready to facilitate the business community in these difficult times, Senator Shibli Faraz said on Monday while chairing the fourth meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Coronavirus held in Parliament House.
On the invitation of the chair, the leaders of the business community put forth their suggestions and issues faced by their community. Expressing the worrisome situation faced by majority of the businessmen, FPCCI President Anjum Nisar and Small Traders Association President Ajmal Baloch suggested that the gas and electricity bill be waved off by the government as businesses are closed due to the lockdown. They pointed out that small traders and shopkeepers are in a dire situation and their financial security is the responsibility of the government. Anjum Nisar apprised the committee about restriction on exports, especially on Afghan transit trade, enforcement of SBP interest rate with immediate effect, waiver of restriction of CNIC on transactions and tax exemptions on the CNG sector. He also suggested implementation of the decision of the government for waiver of demurrage charges imposed on ships at seaports. Ajmal Baloch suggested that rents and utility bills of shopkeepers and small traders may be waived off for the duration of this pandemic besides allowing small traders to open their businesses for small duration subject to observance of health guidelines and SOPs issued by the health department. He also suggested for provision of interest-free loans to small traders and shopkeepers for revival of their businesses.
Minister for Industries and Production Hamad Azhar said that government is focusing to address economic woes of the business community, especially the small traders and their electricity bill will be waved off for next six months. He informed that almost 95 percent of small businesses use commercial meters and their electricity and gas bills will be paid by the government itself during lockdown. On the other hand, he pointed out, a special package of Rs 70 Billion for laid-off workers associated with the industrial sector will be announced by the government soon.
Responding to the issue regarding imposition of ban on export through Afghan transit trade, the minister said that majority of the exports to Afghanistan are food items, therefore in order to ensure food security in the country the said ban has been imposed. He said a single package cannot address the issues of all the industrial sectors, therefore sector-specific packages will be devised by the government.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the government is fully cognizant of the issues faced by the traders and masses and urged the all public representative to cooperate with them at every level. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said the parliamentary committee must take prompt decisions. He also demanded that implementation of the decisions taken by the committee must be ensured in letter and spirit. He also suggested to take appropriate action against mill owners who have laid off their workers and are not paying their outstanding wages. The committee unanimously recommended for the release of arrested traders in Karachi at the earliest.