Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP) president and Economic Council chairman Ismail Suttar has recorded protest on the recent ban on food edibles for two weeks by the Prime Minister Imran Khan and the cabinet and demanded to lift the ban in favour of country's economy.

In a statement, Suttar said govt announced it had banned the export of all the edible items from Pakistan which also include value added food items. The EFP-EC communicated that the news has created panic in the export oriented food-manufacturing sector which is employing millions of people and contributing to national exchequer with valuable foreign exchange as food group represents 20 percent of all export.

On behalf of the exporters, Ismail Suttar said exporters concerns were raised to the Prime Minister Imran Khan and his cabinet. "The decision will result in mass unemployment, which will add to the already worsened employment market conditions due to COVID 19", he pointed out.

EFP president further said export oriented food sector is one of the few sectors which are still working despite Covid-19 crisis and getting orders from international market due to ongoing seasonal demand. Ban on export will affect our export targets quite negatively.

"Ramazan and Eid are peak seasons for food exports especially to Muslim countries and exporters make their main profits during this season. Any decision to ban exports will have adverse effect on exporters' revenue and many of them may not be able to revive their businesses once the ban is lifted", he said Ismail Suttar further pointed out that exporters will lose hard-earned market share and competing countries will take advantage to get a walkover. The cabinet has made decision without taking business community into confidence.

There are many export oriented food items, which can never be short for domestic market due their huge reserves in Pakistan.-PR