Rawalpindi: The Government of Punjab is mulling over partially reopening the province’s restaurants and hotels during the next week – under strict implementation of the previously communicated standard operating procedures (SOPs), a news source published today (July 7) quoted Minister for Law Raja Basharat as saying.
The minister shared this information with the Rawalpindi Hotel and Restaurant Association (RHRA) delegation led by the association’s President Sheikh Waheed. The delegation shared concerns and problems the city’s hotel industry has been facing during the ongoing anti-COVID-19 lockdown. The minister indicated towards solving the industry’s issues in the next three months, where some of the hotels and restaurants might reopen by July 15.
The RHRA told the minister that at least 90% of the hotels in Rawalpindi are being operated from rented premises and if the owners are unable to pay their monthly rents, they will be forced to shut down their businesses. In order to help avoid such circumstances, the association requested the government to waive off 3 months’ property tax for the hotels and restaurants.
The minister assured the delegation that their concerns will be shared with Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. He further mentioned that related work on reopening a limited number of restaurant in the province has already been initiated, while work on finalising the SOPs is underway. He said that restaurants and hotels in the province will reopen under restricted sitting capacity of 50% in the first phase.
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