Karachi, April 18, 2020 (PPI-OT): Sindh Minister for Information Syed Nasir Hussain Shah on Saturday said that businessmen in the province would be allowed to open their businesses after the formulation of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
In a statement, he said that SOPs were being formulated by the government. He said that only those businessmen would be allowed to do their businesses who would completely follow SOPs. the info minister said that Sindh Chief Minister had constituted a committee comprising Sindh Minister for Education Saeed Ghani, Sindh Minister for Energy Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh and himself to formulate SOPs for the business community.
He said that the committee, after his meeting with the members of the business community, would finalize SOPs for them to open their businesses. The minister said that the small businessmen would be allowed to resume their businesses if they just limit themselves to the home deliver and ensure the implementation of all SOPs.
Shah said that the chief minister was also of the opinion that the businesses could be resumed on rotation policy. Explaining the rotation policy, the minister said that days would be fixed for various businesses. The days on which businesses related to garments, clothing or fabrics would be allowed to do business, all other related trades like tailors, embroidery etc. would also be allowed to work the same days, he said. Similarly, the days for all the businesses related to the electronics trade would also be fixed.
Shah said that the chief minister had also decided that besides talking to the federal government regarding giving loan to the small businessmen on easy provisions, the Sindh government would also facilitate them with regard to excise taxes and SRB taxes.
He said that any businessman found not following SOPs would not be allowed to continue with his business. Shah said that the government was also devising SOPs for the health facilities i.e. hospitals, clinics and dispensaries in the province. He said that those health facilities would be allowed to function after the formulation of SOPs.
He said that Sindh chief minister had also met with the office-bearers of Pakistan Medical Association in this regard. He said that the CM told Pakistan Medical Association that all those doctors who followed the devised SOPs could open their clinks. He said that the chief minister also asked the members of Pakistan Medical Association to submit their suggestion regarding the tele clinics. He said that Sindh Chief Minister was of the opinion that all the useful suggestions for the initiation of Tele Clinics in the province would be supported.
Shah said that in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, it was not possible for the Sindh government to allow the resumption of all the businesses at once. Gradually after the formulation of all the imperative SOPs, the business activities would resume in the province, he added.
Shah further said that all the businesses related to essential commodities, especially those manufacturing and delivering food items including meat, vegetables and dairy items, were functioning right from day one of the lock down. “The Sindh government is well aware of the sufferings of the business community after the lockdown. The decision of the lockdown was one of the difficult decisions taken by the Sindh government.”
Shah said that to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, lockdown was the only best possible option available. The minister hoped that that with the cooperation of the people, including the members of the business community, soon the government would be successful in complete elimination of coronavirus pandemic.
For more information, contact:
Sindh Information and Archives Department
Government of Sindh
95-Sindh Secretariat 4-B, Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-99204423, +92-21-99204401
Email: pressinformationzubair@gmail.com
Website: http://sindhinformation.gos.pk