KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Hours after the federal government unveiled its latest energy conservation plan, businessmen and restaurant owners slammed the announced measures, calling the policy “harmful rather than productive”.
Condemning the restrictions – which are to be imposed by the Center after consultation with the provinces – President All Pakistan Anjuman Tajran Ajmal Baloch on Tuesday urged the government to immediately Revoke the decision to close markets and restaurants after 8 p.m.
Under its National Energy Conservation Plan, the government has decided that marriage halls will be closed till 10 pm, while restaurants, hotels and markets will be closed till 8 pm.
However, it was learned that the closing time of restaurants could be extended by one hour.
“The government, before bankrupting the country, will bankrupt all businessmen,” he said. He added that traders buy the most expensive electricity from 6 pm to 8 pm.
Warning the government against nationwide protests, Baloch said: “The coalition government has destroyed Pakistan’s economy.”
President of Karachi Electric Dealers Association Rizwan Irfan expressed his regret and said that traders are already suffering due to load shedding of electricity and gas. He warned that traders would take strict action if these restrictions were imposed.
‘Responsive Production Policy’
Meanwhile, All Pakistan Restaurant Association (APRA) Chairman Athar Chawla termed the National Energy Conservation Plan as a “dummy” rather than productive approach to solving Pakistan’s energy crisis.
He explained that if more people ate at restaurants at night, they would use less energy than if they stayed indoors.
APRA Senior Vice President Sulaiman Chawla wrote a letter to Defense Minister Khawaja Asif – who unveiled the Cabinet decision at a press conference earlier today.
“All restaurants maintain an inventory of perishable items, which must be kept in cold storage 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” the letter reads. are already closed due to reason”. Closing the restaurant early for that reason “wouldn’t help save any energy,” he added.
Recalling the economic loss during the COVID-19, the association – which is a registered member of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) – noted that around 50 per cent of restaurants are loss-making due to the current economic situation. are running
“Any further restrictions will worsen the situation resulting in unemployment and loss of revenue for the government,” he said, adding that 40 industries related to restaurants would also be affected by the restrictions.
APRA requested the relevant authorities to allow restaurants to open till 1am and allow takeaway and delivery 24/7.
