The Caretaker Government of Punjab has decided to exempt the IT sector from its anti-smog smart lockdown order, designating it as an essential service. According to the government’s notification, this exemption includes e-commerce, international IT centers, call centers, software houses, and telecom services, which will remain operational.
The exempted services from the closure order now include:
- Pharmacies/Medical Stores
- Medical Facilities and Vaccination Centers
- Petrol Pumps and Oil Depots
- Tandoors, Bakeries, Grocery/Karyana stores, Milk/Dairy Shops, Sweet Shops, Vegetable/Fruit Shops
- Chicken/Meat Shops
- E-commerce/Postal/Courier Services and Utility Services (Electricity, Natural Gas, Internet, Cellular Networks/Telecom, international IT Centers, and call centers)
The rest of the lockdown orders will remain in effect as previously stated.
Also Read: Rain Forecast in Islamabad this Week
The Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT and ITES (PASHA) had sent a letter to the Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab, requesting an exemption for the IT sector from the closure orders due to the intense smog conditions in the province.
Chairman of PASHA, Muhammad Zohaib Khan, outlined the reasons for the harmful impact of the government’s decision:
- Disruption to IT Exports: A shutdown would disrupt IT exports, affecting international client deadlines and potentially resulting in significant financial losses and contractual penalties.
- Damage to Brand Pakistan: Interruptions in IT services would harm Pakistan’s international image as a reliable IT service provider, which can have long-lasting and challenging-to-repair repercussions.
- Customer Distrust: Sudden shutdowns could lead to customer distrust, causing clients to seek services from other countries, leading to short-term business losses and potentially reducing foreign IT investments in the long run.
Following PASHA’s request, the provincial government has revised its order, granting an exemption to IT exporters, call centers, and related businesses. The recommendation is to allow IT companies to continue their operations under strict health safety protocols, as was done during the pandemic.
