APTPMA voices concern over closure of industry, business

Chairman (Central) All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA), Muhammad Pervez Lala, has expressed grave concern over closures of industry and business in the country due to coronavirus pandemic.
He appreciated federal and provincial governments' efforts and precautionary measures being adopted by them to cope with this disaster and he said, "We are with our governments as we are trying our level best to save our industry and economy from complete collapse."
He said necessary preventive measures have been adopted by us in our factories at our own resources to save workers from the virus and their health and earnings.
He said coronavirus has been spread all over the world and as per news a number of effected patients in Pakistan especially Sindh and Punjab provinces are being increased day by day which has created panic and trouble amongst people, business and industrial sectors.
As due to corona virus, local markets, business shops and transports are being closed, and on the other side foreign buyers have postponed or cancelled their orders. In these conditions production activities have been stopped, all finished and raw goods have been stuck up in the factories resultantly all investments in this regard has been stagnant, labourers are facing joblessness and starvation.
He said that markets, shopping malls and transports are being closed which has created lockdown situation in the country, investment has stopped, industries and businesses are facing severe financial problems. He appealed to the federal and provincial governments that to keep in view of these conditions electricity & gas bills, sales tax, income tax, social security and other central and provincial dues and taxes be frozen at least for three months.
He further said that business centers must be allowed to run their businesses for selective hours instead of complete closures. Cargo transportation of exports goods should not be stopped in any case. Payments of all refunds i.e. sales tax, income tax and DLTL be ensured and all banks should give one year extension on repayment of all dues.
He said that God forbid, if in case of textile processing factories to go towards lockdown, we ensure that our all member units will make sure payment of 15 days salary to their labourers/workers and we will share all details in this regard.
For the safety of our workers from the virus, necessary safety measures have been taken by our member units as masks and sanitizers have been arranged and workers are advised to keep distance amongst each other. However, we appeal to the governments to appoint doctor teams in our factories for necessary checkup of the workers.
The APTPMA chief said that in these conditions the government should announce special relief package on gas and electricity bills for industrial units enabling them to continue their work at this critical time and after release from the disaster.