Federal govt urged to allow reopening businesses

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) President Saboor Malik has urged the federal government to relax the lock-down and provide a mechanism for reopening businesses under strict SOPs.

Malik said Pakistan's economy could neither afford a complete lockdown, nor it can survive mass infections due to its overburdened healthcare system. An out of the box solution should be opted to open businesses on alternate bases either via limited working hours or geo-location base.

The RCCI chief said this while addressing the 8th executive committee meeting of the business body. He said the business community had lauded Punjab government's recent steps and consultations with respect to partial lock-down aiming to open businesses. They consider recommendations prepared by Punjab chief minister regarding opening of business as encouraging one, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2020.