President of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Engr Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz has urged the government to announce a comprehensive fiscal relief package for coronavirus-hit small scale industries and traders.

SCCI chief was addressing during a meeting with delegation of private Wah Noble Company here at the chamber house on Saturday.

Wah Noble Company Senior General Manager Marketing Syed Azmat Hussain was led the delegation. On the occasion, the company representatives gave a comprehensive briefing the industrialists, traders and member of business community.

The Chamber president noticed that besides general masses, the business community, particularly, small industries and traders were adversely affected due to outbreak of the novel Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which had brought negative impacts on the country's economy.

Maqsood Pervaiz asked the government to announce a comprehensive financial relief package for coronavirus affected small scale industries, traders and shopkeepers, which would not only helpful to revive economic and commercial activities, but it would also stabilize the Pakistan's economy worst-hit by this global virus.

SCCI chief said that half of population of the country was living below the poverty line. Therefore, he called upon the philanthropists and well-off people to financially support deserving poor people of their present difficult situation by fulfilling social corporate responsibility.

He said trade and economic activities came to halt due to prolonged lockdown as precautionary measure to contain spread of the novel Covid-19 (coronavirus). He added the small industrialists, traders and shopkeepers are facing enormous financial and other challenges under the prevailing circumstances.

Therefore, he demanded of the government to waive off all taxes of small industries and traders, deferment of electricity, gas bills as well as not collecting additional surcharges in utilities bills under a comprehensive economic relief package. On the occasion, SCCI chief expressed his gratitude for Wah Nobel for its services to the business community and standing shoulder to shoulder with the nation in difficult times.