Some garment industries have started production in Lahore and Faisalabad following the government's permission in the lockdown.

Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA) welcomed the decision, pledging to take strict precautionary measures directed by the government and health experts during the operations.

Talking to reporters on Wednesday here this evening Senior Vice Chairman PHMA Khawaja Musharraf Iqbal said that industry is bound to follow the SOPs of the government Punjab to run the factories and extend the full support to their workers.

Due to this pandemic the country has the threat to face hunger and poverty in the future if the daily wagers will not be allowed to work, he said.

Expressing his deep concern he said that district administration of Sialkot is not allowing the industry to work even permitted by the Home Department, government of Punjab.

He said that Sialkot is the second-largest source of foreign exchange earnings for Pakistan because of its exports' and remittances from overseas manpower so it should be given the same status that other cities of Pakistan are enjoying.

The industrialists of Sialkot are well organized and following the instructions and rules of the government so the restrictions from local police for those who are permitted to work by the Punjab government is not understandable, he said.

Musharraf urged the CM Punjab to take an urgent notice on the behavior of police and other government departments of Sialkot who are creating hurdles to run their factories under the permission of the Home Department, government of Punjab.