PESHAWAR: Businessmen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday opposed the federal government decision to allow businesses to open for five days a week only and demanded of the government to completely end the lockdown.

Addressing a joint press conference here at the chamber, traders and industrialists asked the government to pay tax refunds without any discrimination as per announcement of Prime Minister Imran Khan. They also demanded of the government to withdraw Section 144 on transportation of wheat from Punjab to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to avoid flour crisis in the province.

The traders demanded of the government to waive all federal and provincial taxes for one year. They further asked for waiving of rents of government buildings while rents of private plazas and buildings should be paid by the government.

"The lockdown is not a solution. We are ready to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs)," said Maqsood Amwar Pervaiz, president of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at the press conference.

The SCCI chief said that traders were facing a severe financial crisis due to the lockdown in the province.

He said that massive rush of shoppers in bazaars was witnessed during the restriction on opening hours. He urged the government to allow businesses to open 24/7. Presidents and other office-bearers of different trade associations, industrialists and exporters were present at the press conference in large numbers.

Maqsood Pervaiz said the countries of the world where coronvirus death rate was high were considering ending the lockdown altogether.