PFVA calls for 'special transport facilities' so that labourers can easily travel from Punjab to SindhISLAMABAD: Ahead of this year’s mango season, which will begin in the first week of May, horticulture exporters have expressed fears that “the unviability of transportation for the movement of labourers due to virus lockdowns” would result in grave losses for them. In a letter sent to Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and other relevant departments, the All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters, Importers & Merchants Association (PFVA) has urged the government to arrange “special transport facilities” for labourers so that they could easily travel from Punjab to Sindh. The association explained that mango crop in Sindh gets ready by the first week of May, whereas in Punjab, it starts after a gap of a month (in June). “Since railway and public transport are not operating due to countrywide lockdown, the transfer of labourers from Punjab to Sindh would become very difficult.”It continued, “If labourers from Punjab do not reach Sindh on time, it will not only hamper the country’s mango exports but would also weaken the already struggling national economy. “It’s imminent that during this stressful time, we shall keep a balance between the lockdown and economic activities so that we can steer the country out of this natural catastrophe.

Source: Pakistan Today April 25, 2020 17:37 UTC