LAHORE – The Pakistan Industrial and Traders Association Front (PIAF) has expressed serious concerns over proposals to observe two weekly holidays, terming it a decision that would further spoil things. In a press statement issued here on Thursday, PIAF Chairman Sohail Lashari said that two weekly holidays would hamper business and industrial activities. He urged the government to evolve policies, to address energy crisis, after consultation with the business community. He also urged the government to consider alternative measures for saving energy and enhancing the capacity of electricity generating units.
He suggested that, if two weekly holidays were unavoidable, export and import-related government offices including ports, customs and banks should be exempted. He claimed that two weekly holidays would trigger financial losses to the national exchequer. He said that commercial banks do not observe a two day weekly closure in any part of the world. Even countries, where 5-day week was observed, commercial banks remained open on Saturdays. He said that the government should exempt customs and banks from the two day weekly off to ensure export and industries operation. He said that two weekly holidays in the country were not viable.
Traders oppose anti-business policies: The All Pakistan Anjuman Tajuran (APAT) has strongly opposed proposals of two weekly holidays and forced closure of markets and commercial centers at 8pm from April 01, 2011. Newly appointed APAP Chairman Haji Shahid Maqsood Butt, while addressing a news conference at Lahore Press Club on Thursday, said that traders were united against anti-business proposals of the government. He said that the government had planned to restore two weekly holidays from April 01, 2011, but traders would continue the existing practice of one weekly holiday. In addition, traders strongly opposed proposal of closing markets at 8pm, he underlined.
He stressed that business activity in the country was already passing through trying times due to grim law and order situation, shortage of energy and high inflation. He said that, on dictation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government was again planning to enforce reformed GST in the coming budget. Traders refuted the reformed GST previous year and would not allow the government to reintroduce this black tax law, he added. APAT President Khalid Pervaiz and General Secretary Abdul Razzaq Babbar also spoke on the occasion.
Two weekly holidays not viable: PIAF
