LAHORE: The business community has asked the government to review its decision to close marriage halls in the wake of Covid-19, as it will save more than 50 industries and jobs of a large number of workers.

`The closure of marriage halls from Nov 20 will be a big blow to this industry and put the employment of millions of workers at stake. The government must reconsider the decision, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Mian Tariq Misbah told reporters at a press conference here on Tuesday.

`There will be a chain reaction, as more than 50 allied industries will be af fected badly.

Flanked by LCCI Senior Vice PresidentMuhammad Nasir Hameed Khan, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan Chairman Faisal Jahangir, Punjab Marriage Halls Association President Muhammad Ilyas, poultry association representative Muhammad Nusrat Tahir and others, Mr Misbah said the marriage hall sector contributed substantially to the gross domestic product.

Closure of banquet halls and marquees will impact the industries of poultry, rice, meat, cooking oil, flour, fruits/vegetables, crockery, clothing, shoes, cosmetics, decoration, furniture, electronics, photography, wedding cards and jewellery etc.

Around 20 per cent of revenue of the food industry in Punjab depended on marriage halls.

`The sector has been adversely impacted by the lockdown and the consequent economic slow-down. Therefore, it should be allowed to work under standard operating procedures (SOPs), the L CCI president said, adding that the government should defer mark-up for at least a year as marriage halls and catering businesses were facing a severe financial crunch.

PIEDMC: The Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company (PIEDMC) has decided to hand over possession of plots to industrial entrepreneurs on preferential basis in all the economic zones of the province. The purpose is to speed up industrialisation and provide facilities to potential industrialists and investors.

This decision was taken in the 145th meeting of the PIEDMC board of directors presided over here on Tuesday by its chairman, Syed Nabeel Hashmi. The board also approved a concessional package to all those investors who purchased more than 25 acres for their industrial set-ups in the Quaid-iAzam Business Park (QABP).

`Rs1.25 billion will be utilised for the establishment of Bahawalpur Industrial Estate (BWPIE), the second biggest industrial estate in south Punjab after Multan, and a demand has been made to the Punjab government.

The estate will help bring less developed areas on a par with other parts of the province andusher in an era of development according to the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan,` Mr Hashmi said while talking to the media.

The meeting also decided to set up advisory boards for QABP and Rahim Yar Khan industrial zones.

The advisory board members included public representatives and experts f rom various economic fields and will be nominated for a year.

It also approved a plan for supply of electricity to five industrial estates in Punjab, including three special economic zones, QABP and Sundar Industrial Estate.

Mr Hashmi thanked Chief Minister Usman Buzdar for hisef forts to establish Punjab as a hub of industrial activity by establishing new industrial estates and economic zones.

OPERATION: Various teams of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) on Tuesday carried out field inspections and detected power theft at several premises.

The teams charged over 60,000 units besides moving police for registration of cases against 17 power thieves, according to a spokesman.

The LDA also sealed five buildings over non-payment of commercialisation fee and flouting usage rules/regulations.