All Pakistan Restaurant Association (APRA) convener Athar Chawla has urged the Prime Minister Imran Khan to announce a relief package for restaurant industry in view of the dire situation created by the COVID-19 to save the industry from collapse and millions of workers from becoming unemployed.

He said due to restaurants' closure due to lockdown across the country, the restaurant industry is facing severe financial crunch.

Athar Chawla said all lower wage earners and daily wagers be paid Rs 12,000 under govt's Ehsaas program so that workers can be saved from starvation.

He mentioned that there are about 100,000 restaurants across the country and 2 to 2.5 million people are employed in the industry. However, the Covid-19 has brought the restaurant industry to the brink of disaster.

"The continuous closure of restaurants for more than a month has led to a severe financial crisis that has not only severely affected the livelihoods of millions but now the situation has come to starvation", he added.

"Prime minister by an ordinance, should waive off the rent of the lockdown period and order reduction of 50 percent for the next 6 months and sales tax be waived off till Dec," he requested.

He appealed that taxes on salaries, turnover be waived off at least for 2020, while the taxes on utility bills also should not be included up to Dec. Athar Chawla also requested the prime minister to defer EOBI and Social Security contribution be waived off up to Dec.