Soaps and sanitizers: PSMA seeks exemption from closure and transportation

Pakistan Soap Manufacturers Association (PSMA) has urged provincial governments to specifically exempt the manufacturing and distribution of soaps and hand sanitizers and other essential healthcare products during the lockdowns as these products are essential to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Zafar Mehmood, Chairman PSMA, has requested the government of Punjab and Sindh for specifically include soap and hand sanitizers as essential healthcare products in the notifications issued with regards lockdowns.
He said that there are some 166 members of PSMA are engaged in manufacturing of soap, sanitizers and other essential healthcare products in the country. However, the current lockdowns due to COVID-19, the industrial activities have been closed in almost throughout Pakistan.
Despite that certain industries are engaged in the production of essential products like food, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and accordingly exempted from the closure and transportation.
He emphasized that soap and hand sanitizers are the only products which have been found effective for protection against the Coronavirus and the government is also repeatedly advertising and persuading the general public to wash hand with soap.
He requested the provincial governments to specifically exempt the manufacturing and distribution of soaps and hand sanitizers from the lockdown.
He further said that in case the production activities of our members are forced to close down, there will be an acute shortage of soap and hand sanitizers and the entire country will be deprived of the only available remedy against COVID-19.
"PSMA members have already undertaken strict measures to protect their staff by employing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPEs)," he added.
In the absence of clear instructions, the law enforcement agencies are not allowing the staff and vehicles of soap making companies to move and also forcing the companies to close down their operations, Zafar said.