KARACHI: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has criticized arrest of industrialists especially textile mills owners for engagement in production activities during lockdown.
Agha Shahab, President, KCCI, expressed concerns over the arrest/ detention of owner a textile mill, stated that it was not a wise move to arrest anyone or raid industries but any violation of government’s order should be brought to KCCI’s and relevant industrial zone association’s notice so that the same could be amicably resolved through negotiations.
“The government should refrain from exacerbating their problems and finalize the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at the earliest so that the industries could accordingly adopt precautionary measures,” President KCCI added in a statement issued.
While referring to Chief Minister Sindh’s recent meeting with representatives of the business and industrial community on April 4, 2020, President KCCI said that Chief Minister afterwards formed a committee which was tasked to outline the SOPs for industries but so far no response was received.
He stressed that export oriented industries should be allowed to operate on a condition that they will ensure compliance of precautionary measures including social distancing, use of masks, gloves and sanitizers to disinfect the coronavirus.
He hoped that the Sindh government would take serious notice of the situation and order the Committee to notify SOPs to industries at the earliest while the labor department should only be authorized to vigilantly supervise all the industrial activities.
The government will have to act really fast in this regard with a view to save the industries as prolonged closure of the industrial units is going to be really detrimental and disastrous for the entire economy, he added.
