Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) has expressed concern over the critical economic crisis perpetrating due to the prolonged corona lockdown.
Addressing a press conference, Rana Sikandar Azam Khan President FCCI has demanded that government must finalise SOP for comprehensive precautionary measures to be adopted by traders to restart their business activities from April 14, 2020. "However, if immediate decision was not taken, the starvation will over-shadow the threats of corona virus", he warned and added that this situation may also force unemployed daily wage earners to indulge in loot and plunder.
He said that corona related lockdown was started from March 24 and during last 13 days; the government has taken commendable measures to contain the pandemic but without considering its side effect on our social and economic life. He told that in addition to the daily wage earners the while collared trading class is also now feeling the heat of continuous lockdown. He told that Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced Rs.1200 billion stimulus packages out of which Rs.150 billion were earmarked for the poverty-stricken daily wagers.
He said that immediately after the lockdown, the business and industrial community had started their philanthropic activities and ration was provided to the unemployed daily wagers while industrialists have also announced to give full pay to their employees despite of the lockdown.
He further said that situation has now entirely changed during the last two weeks and traders are facing severe liquidity crunch. He said that many traders have rented premises and their landlords are demanding rent while they need money to fulfil their own family needs in addition to paying the utility bills.
He said that despite of lofty claims of the government, no practical assistance has yet been provided to the needy segments. He explained the miseries of different business sectors and told that poultry meat is available at Rs.100/Kg due to the lack of market demand and each poultry farmer has so far suffered losses to the tune of Rs 4-5 million.
He further told that they were forced to release new crop of chicks in open fields as they are unable to feed them.