SIALKOT: Muhammad Ashraf Malik, President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry has stated that Export Industry of Sialkot had drastically suffered from the Pandemic COVID-19 and subsequent financial crunch resulted due to lockdown, cancellation of exports orders, and delay in receipt of payments. Mr. Malik further added that the Business Community of Sialkot was looking at a relief in upcoming Financial Budget 2020-21, which would help in recovering the SMEs based industry setup of Sialkot, from their financial loses.
He also mentioned that to save the Export Industry of Pakistan and to revive the economy of Pakistan, Federal Government should highly consider announcing a maximum relief in the shape of increase in the percentage of DLTL, relaxation in local Taxes and Levies and realization of Grant to the SMEs, which were shredded from the adverse effect of the pandemic. Mr. Malik said he fears that any further burden on the already agonized SME’s Industry, would create unemployment and uncertainty in the country. President SCCI urged that Federal Government should consider the recommendations to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on the Country’s Economy and help in sustaining the Business Community and should announce business-friendly policies in the upcoming Federal Budget 2020-21.