The three-month-long lockdown due to Covid-19 has caused a massive financial hit to the Punjab government as well as
The ET and NC had set
'Beside the financial loss, the deaths caused by consuming fake liquor should be an even bigger concern for the government. In the last three months, about 20 to 30 people have died in Punjab due to fake liquor. Since licensed vendors are closed, the regular drinkers have started consuming fake liquor, which is a very dangerous thing,' he said.
He added that they are trying to persuade the Punjab government to lift the lockdown restriction on the company and licensed vendors so that precious human lives could be saved.
'I appeal to the Punjab government to open vendor shops as soon as possible so that people get genuine products and do not opt for fake liquor which may cause their untimely and painful death. There should not be any fear of spreading infection at the permit rooms as people will come, buy and leave; they will not roam around like in shopping malls etc.,' he said.
'I know that social distancing is very important in view of the current pandemic, and therefore, the SOPs for this business should include giving products only to those who follow the rules,' he emphasised.
'Exports are not our domain because only ethanol, a pure form of alcohol, is exported from
'The more
'Now,
Punjab Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO) Safeer Abbas Jappa also confirmed the financial loss due to restriction on liquor sales.
He said that the department was collecting
'In just three months, the department has incurred a loss of
Talking about the target and deficit of ET and NC, Jappa said, 'Our target for the last financial year was
© Pakistan Press International, source