Calls for setting up of special fund to support daily wagers
LAHORE : The business community on Monday urged the government to announce complete lockdown across the country like Sindh that has been very proactive in dealing with the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Earlier, on Sunday, Prime Minister Imran Khan decided not to go for lockdown and said that instead it is better to self quarantine.
In his address to the nation, the PM asked the countrymen that in case a complete lockdown is imposed, what would become of the labourers, daily wagers, and rickshaw and taxi drivers as they would have no resources to feed their families. “Similarly, the government has no resources to cater to their needs,” PM Imran said.
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Talking to Pakistan Today, M Hassan Tariq, Head of Digital Banking and Innovation at Silk Bank said that voluntary quarantines and stay at home would equally kill the daily wagers which PM Imran is avoiding…so it is better to enforce govt announced lockdown in the larger interest of the masses and the country. Tariq added that delay would only worsen things as the nation is not at a literacy level where they would pay heed to the PM’s request of staying at home.
He held that the barbershops owners are also daily wagers but they have closed their shops. Restaurant workers are also daily wagers…People working at shopping malls are mostly daily wagers. Likewise, transport and construction site workers are also daily wagers,” he added. “Businesses are shut and so are airports which means no business for taxi drivers which again are daily wagers…The PM wants them to continue earning and feeding their families,” Tariq said.
He said that taking a decision whether right or wrong is no issue. But taking no decision is criminal negligence because people are not even allowing their maids to come to homes, he added.
Counter Plan
Tariq suggested that the government create a fund and all corporations should cut the salaries of employees at their end on their own and deposit it in the fund. Similarly, businesses should announce no deduction of salary of a particular class that depends on daily wages, he said.
Tariq opined: “With shopping malls and restaurants closed down, we would save many unnecessary expenses we normally do. So, all such expenses should be directed to help the needy.”
He suggested that the schools should deposit the excess fund after deducting payroll and other necessary expenses, as they would be saving on electricity and many other related expenses since they are closed now and have already collected fees in advance.
Free Food Distribution
Tariq advised the government to announce free food distribution points in every city, keep them stocked and announce lockdowns so nobody needs to go out unless it is an emergency.
According to him, large mosques should be converted to Covid-19 isolation centres. Small mosques should receive basic necessities from the community where poor people can come and take what they want, he added. “Daily wagers would most probably die either way unfortunately, whether through Covid-19 or hunger but these actions would help in saving many others,” Tariq said.
Adding to what Tariq stated, Nishat Hyundai Motors Private Limited (NHMPL) Chief Financial Officer Noreez Abdullah said that the govt should announce a complete lockdown in the country for a week at least thinking it as a long weekend like the govt announces holidays on Eids. He added that no daily wagers dies or takes law in his hand during such national holiday.
“God forbid the cost of living this critical time avoiding lockdown could be much more if the infected curve keeps getting steeper,” Abdullah feared. Agreeing with them, leading tax consultant Dr Ikramul Haq said that indeed lockdown is a prerequisite if the government wants to contain the outbreak.
“The PM Imran’s approach of wait and see is faulty. Our first priority should be containing the people, as a massive outbreak would have ramifications that we are not capable of handling,” he said adding that China is a successful example to follow and Italy/Spain are bad ones to avoid.
Meanwhile, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Group Leader Gohar Ijaz said that PM Imran has more information than all of us and the textile sector would follow the decision of the govt in these most critical times.
Who is this Tariq? He is suggesting to cut down salaries of middle class who has to pay rents, utility bills, medical expenses not covered by medical insurances, rashion etc. All these things will remain the same. According to Tariq, middle class (working class) goes to shopping malls and shop every month. People like him are evil. They have no idea about the prevailing situation of middle class in Pakistan. He is suggesting to cut down their salaries because now days they are saving money as they are not visiting malls. Lanat ha is par. He probably sitting in his kannal house with millions in his bank account and thinking everyone working in a rich person.
I would suggest to please deduct 50% current and saving account balances of every Pakistani. Why don’t people like Tariq give such suggestions? Because they have millions in their bank accounts. Everytime business community put pressure on working class. Why don’t we nationalise properties, businesses and bank accounts?