The All Pakistan Anjuman-i-Tajiran has rejected the government’s directives for the scheduled Eid holidays and countrywide lockdown from May 8 to May 17. The Union announced that they would keep the shops open till the Chand Raat (moon sighting night).
APAT General Secretary Naem Mir released a press release saying, “We reject this announcement as the small traders and shopkeepers are already in great trouble due to limited timings of markets (from 9 am to 6 pm) for five days a week. This is also causing a huge rush of shoppers in the markets, spreading virus fast.”
He urged the government to stop harassing the shop owners via activities like flag marches every day and the request to allow them to open their shops till late at night to avoid the rush of people caused by fewer working hours.
Mr. Naem Mir warned the government saying, “If you don’t do so, we will then keep our shops open on our own.”
Read more: Millions of industrial sector employees to lose jobs after Eid
On 1st May, the Patron in Chief of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), Mr. Gohar Ejaz also rejected the decision of the Government for the Eid ul Fitr holidays from 10th to 16th May 2021.
While expressing his concerns, Mr. Ejaz stated that this will bring the whole country practically shut down for 10 days from Saturday, 8th May to Monday 17th May 2021.
He said that shutting down the country for 10 consecutive days is unacceptable as it would create a lot of glitches for the economy, industries, particularly the exporters who will not be able to dispatch their shipments abroad due to the complete closure of banks, ports, customs, and all other departments during excessive holidays.
He also warned that we cannot afford such extended holidays as they will give losses of up to billions of rupees to the national exchequer and terribly affect business activities, particularly exports.