‘Honking’ protest against lockdown today

Traders demand reopening of all businesses, end to weekly closures

ISLAMABAD:

Traders of the federal capital have announced to stage a “car horn” protest on Saturday (today) against the prolonged lockdown, imposed to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), which has ruined many businesses.

All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran and Traders Action Committee Islamabad President Ajmal Baloch, along with the Traders Action Committee Islamabad Secretary Khalid Chaudhry met with representatives of the Traders Welfare Association in Sector F-6 Supermarket Markaz on Friday and announced to hold a protest at Zero Point at 3pm on Saturday.

They appealed to traders to come in their vehicles and join the protest by honking their horns.

Baloch said that the lockdown for the past four months has bankrupted traders. Many businesses, including restaurants, wedding halls, marquees, gyms, beauty parlours, hotels and recreational parks remain closed.

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On the other hand, rents are so high that many businesses are in danger of default, besides they have no money to pay salaries to their staff or even amenity bills.

Medium-sized enterprises who have a three-phase power connection are still deprived of government assistance, which has been made available to only a fraction of small and micro-enterprises.

Baloch appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of the economic woes of the capital’s traders affected by the pandemic and announce a relief package and other benefits, including interest-free loans.

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Baloch and Chaudhry said that their association fully supports all the demands made by Anjuman-e-Tajiran. They demanded the reopening of all kinds of businesses including restaurants, hotels and marquees should be opened to save the traders from starvation.

They also called for an end to weekly holidays and increasing working hours.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2020.