Steel Producers Seek Lockdown Exemption to Meet Construction Demand
Islamabad: The Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers (PALSP) has shown its surprise over the fact that the federal government has opted not to open the steel sector despite opening the construction sector. It also fear unhealthy competition in the coming days since the industry is opened in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while it remains closed in the rest of the country. In a statement issued on Wednesday, PALSP said steel is an integrated part of the construction sector, with many steel units having their own labour colonies.
The association urged the government to immediately open the steel industry under the prescribed coronavirus SOPs.
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“Without the availability and consumption of steel, there is no way that the construction sector could start its activities,” the statement read. “Any delay in the opening of the steel sector will result in shortage of steel which will create difficulties as well as massive suffering for the consumers who will need steel to start construction work.”
PALSP said it considered the government’s decision of opening the construction sector as ‘historic’, as this was important to create job opportunities. Since the government has opened up the construction sector in a big way, there is going to be an abrupt increase in the demand of steel, the association noted.