APTMA wants textile units be exempted from lockdown

With a view to ensure smooth running of business operations of export-oriented industry and to bring them at par with the units operating in KPK and Sindh, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has requested the Punjab government to exempt textile export-oriented units of Punjab from lockdown restrictions subject to complying with the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
In a letter written by Chairman APTMA Punjab Adil Bashir to Punjab Minister for industries, Commerce & Investment Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal, the Punjab government has been requested to grant exemption to export-oriented industry of Punjab as was given by the government of KPK and government of Sindh keeping in view the importance of foreign exchange for the economic viability of the country.
The lockdown was imposed in Punjab vide government of the Punjab Order No. SO(IS-II)1-1/2004 dated March 23, 2020, which has resulted in abrupt closure of all offices, cessation of production and manufacturing operations, stoppage of supplies both for domestic and foreign markets.
The letter states that the current lockdown also does not permit manufacturing of goods meant for shipment to overseas destinations. This situation is fraught with risks of cancellation of valuable export orders causing colossal loss to the economy of the country. In order to honor the commitment of export orders, there is an urgent need to allow production and transportation of goods exclusively meant for export only.
Presently divisional commissioners are empowered to allow manufacturing operations by exporters on case to case basis subject to complying with certain very harsh conditions including testing of certain percentage of employees on daily basis which make the permission almost redundant in most of the cases, the letter said.