Rs70bn package for laid-off workers anytime soon: Hammad

NAVEED BUTT

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Industries and Production Muhammad Hammad Azhar Monday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was focusing on addressing the economic woes of the business community, especially the small traders, and hence their electricity bills would be waived off for the next six months.

“Almost 95 percent small business used commercial meters as the electricity and gas bills will be paid by the government itself during lockdown. A special package of Rs70 billion for laid-off workers associated with industrial sector will be announced by the government anytime soon,” the Minister informed the Parliamentary Committee on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) met with Senator Syed Shibli Faraz in the chair at the Parliament House here on Monday.

The minister said that as far as the large businesses were concerned they could be facilitated through various financing facilities of the State Bank of Pakistan.

Responding to the issue regarding imposition of ban on export through Afghan transit trade, the minister said that majority of the exports to Afghanistan were food items, therefore, in order to ensure food security in the country the said ban was imposed.

He said that a single package could not address the issues of all the industrial sectors, therefore sector-specific packages would be devised by the government.

Senator Syed Shibli Faraz said, while chairing the committee meeting, that the business and agricultural segments were of vital importance to bring the country out of the present economic and health crises. 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, President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Mian Anjum Nisar and President Small Traders Association Ajmal Baloch, suggested that the gas and electricity bill be waived off by the government as businesses were closed during the lockdown.

They also maintained that small traders and shopkeepers were in dire situation and their financial security was the responsibility of the government in present crisis.

Anjum Nisar apprised the committee about the restriction on exports especially on Afghan-transit trade, enforcement of the SBP interest rate with immediate effect, waiver of restriction of the CNIC on transactions, and tax exemptions on the CNG sector.

He also suggested for implementation of the decision of the government for waiver of demurrage charges imposed on ships at seaports.

President Small Traders Association Ajmal Baloch suggested that rents and utility bills of shopkeepers and small traders should 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 by the health department.

He also suggested for provision of interest-free loans for small traders and shopkeepers for revival of their businesses.

Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Fehmida Mirza said that there was a dire need to bring out unanimous policy regarding lockdown in the country.

She urged for cooperative federalism, which would create harmony in the relief efforts and combating this disease.

Emphasizing the role of Council of Common Interests, she said that all the issues needed to be discussed at the CCI level for achieving unanimity to control this pandemic.

Later on, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, said that government was fully cognizant of the issues faced by the common traders and masses and urged the all public representative to cooperate with all at every level.

Ali Muhammad Khan, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs said this Parliamentary Committee, being the august forum, must take prompt decision.

He also demanded that implementation of the decision taken by the committee must be followed in letter and spirit.

He also suggested for take appropriate action against the mill owners who laid-off their workers and not paying their outstanding wages.

The committee unanimously recommended for the release of arrested traders in Karachi at the earliest.

The other members of the parliamentary committee belonging to opposition urged the government to take unanimous measures to tackle the situation emerged due to COVID-19.

They also demanded that trade and business community should be the special focus of the policymakers.

They also stressed for taking note of unscheduled power outages in Balochistan and rural area of the country.

They also suggested for inviting representatives of farming community in the next meeting of the committee to hear their points of view on problems being faced by them.