KARACHI: Athar Sultan Chawla, Vice President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Convener All Pakistan Restaurant Association (APRA), has urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to allow indoor dining and provide equal business opportunities to restaurants without discrimination.
In an appeal to the Prime Minister, the APRA Convener said that the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), keeping in view the improving COVID-19 situation, had removed the condition of 50 % work from home in all government institutions, lifted time-limit from commercial activities and amusement parks, and also allowed schools and shrines to open.
“The government has allowed the majority of sectors of the economy, including educational institutions, transport, markets, and industry to resume their normal activities, but on the contrary, restaurants are not allowed indoor dining, which is unjust,” he expressed his reservations.
He further warned that if indoor dining is not allowed from March 1, 2021, restaurant owners will start serving food indoors without waiting for any decision.
Athar Chawla appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of the discrimination and issue directives to allow indoor dining in restaurants, to save billions of investments from sinking and millions of workers from unemployment.
