Karachi:The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged the government to allow e-Commerce companies to take orders through e -Commerce or via phone and deliver all items including essential items to the customer’s doorstep.
This way social distancing will be maintained, customers will get the goods/orders delivered at their door step and SMEs will continue doing generating business resulting in economic activity under social distancing protocol. In current Covid-19 situation, this model is already being followed by Amazon, Ali Express and other ecommerce stores, President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said.
With reference to the SOPs for e-Commerce circulated by Government of Sindh on April 14, 2020, he commented that only essential goods and items are allowed namely pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, uncooked grocery items (vegetables, toiletries, hygienic, etc.), pre-packed food items, pet food, delivery of relief goods on behalf of charitable organisations, letters and bank documents, prepaid mobiles and other pop-up cards only whereas all items need to be allowed as e-Commerce is in no way going to break the social distancing protocol.
He said the e-Commerce will in fact facilitate the people to get home delivery of items required by them without their leaving their houses. It is a safe facility and needs to be encouraged in present situation of discouraging gatherings in markets, shopping centers and malls. Thaver urged the government to instead give blanket permission for all items under e-Commerce to enhance healthy economic activity.