Govt, marriage halls body reach agreement
The government and the Punjab Marriage Halls Association (PMHA) have reached an agreement to open banquet halls and outdoor catering across the province from September 1.
The government has accepted the PMHA demand for relaxation in taxes and utility liabilities for lockdown period.
The agreement was reached in a meeting, held on Tuesday, between Punjab Minister for Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal and representatives of the PMHA.
PMHA Chairman Mian Muhammad Ilyas told The Express Tribune that the marriage halls and catering business had been badly hurt owing to prolonged lockdown. Small players have already gone out of business.
“Now the government has expressed its agreement to open marriage halls and outdoor catering from September 1 and allowed us to book events and functions for future dates, though the final decision will be made in the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and the cabinet committee on coronavirus meetings,” he highlighted, adding that banquet halls and caterers were ready to accept all government conditions for the safety of their customers and guests.
Marriage hall owners issue ultimatum
He also pointed out that the government had accepted a demand to waive property tax for the period of the closure and defer sales tax liabilities. The government has also promised to give relaxation in utility bills as given to other industrial and commercial consumers.
Speaking to meeting participants, Mian Aslam Iqbal assured the PMHA representatives that all marriage halls would be opened in the first week of September in case of improvement in the coronavirus situation. He remarked that every sector has been badly affected due to coronavirus pandemic but the situation is improving in the country.
He promised association members that he would put up the matter regarding opening marriage halls and permission for outdoor catering before the cabinet committee and the NCOC.
“We clearly understand that livelihood of thousands of families is linked with this sector. It is the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to set the wheel of business and industries rolling,” he maintained.
Owners call for reopening marriage halls in Karachi
He commended the smart lockdown policy and said it had proved to be beneficial and result-oriented. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is not interested to close down businesses and was compelled to shut down a few businesses due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He underlined that the government would open closed businesses when the coronavirus situation would improve. He assured the delegation members that the government would give tax relief to the marriage halls due to closure of their businesses along with confronting economic difficulties.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2020.