Utility bills, other taxes: APTPMA demands deferment of payment

Chairman (Central) All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA), Muhammad Pervez Lala, has demanded last date of payment of utilities and all kind of federal and provincial taxes and levies be linked with call off of lockdown and minimum 10 days after the reopening of the textile industry closed due to lockdown situation in the country.
The Chairman APTPMA appreciated Prime Minister Imran Khan for taking serious efforts and initiatives to boost the moral of the country by announcing economic relief package of Rs. 1.2 trillion for the people and effected sectors inclusive of export oriented industry of Pakistan.
The APTPMA Chief also extended full support of the Textile Processing Industry of Pakistan to the federal and provincial governments and people of Pakistan at this time of crises. He stated that we salute and pray for our front-line force doctors, nurses, paramedics and specially our armed forces, rangers and police, available and working shoulder to shoulder with civil society to combat this crisis.
Underling the worst impact of the lockdown situation on the business circles and industry, he said that our factories, local markets, business activities and shops are closed, and on the other side foreign buyers have postponed or cancelled their orders. All these factors have created severe financial problems for us and our member units have no capacity to pay gas, electricity and other utilities bills, sales tax and other taxes and liabilities on due dates i.e. 30/31 March 2020 in the lockdown situation.
He said that hopefully with the help of Almighty Allah, govt efforts and nation unity we will get rid of the pandemic soon and situation become normal. He said that as and when lockdown situation overcome, factories and business circle will take about 10 to 15 days more to regenerate economic activities and payments.
He appealed to the PM that payments of all current and coming month(s) utilities bills, sales tax and other taxes and liabilities of the industry must be deferred forthwith till the normal situation and enabling us to pay utility bills and other liabilities after overcoming the lockdown, relaxation of further ten (10) days from the date of announcement of ending of the lockdown in the country would be most essentially required.