Hairdressers demand open shops & relief package

Peshawar ,  Representatives of hairdressers have demanded of Prime Minister, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to allow them to open shops and relief package saying they have also affected due to consecutive lockdown in District Peshawar. 

Speaking at a press conference here at Peshawar Press Club (PPC) , Vice President of Peshawar Sulemani Hairdresser and Beautician Welfare (PSHBW) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Naseer Nomi said that there were approximately 7000 barber shops in Peshawar while over 40,000 labours (barbers) were earning their livelihood. 

He said that a majority of the beauticians belonged to Punjab who due to constantly lockdown and less earning, returned to their native lands. “We gave stipends to our workers from our pockets but we now can’t afford as we have become broke”, he lamented. 

Accompanied by President Abid Hussain, general secretary Rozi Khan and dozens of other barbers, Mr Nomi said that the hairdressers’ shops had been implementing the government orders to open the concerned shops for some hours for last four months as per notification of May 15, 2020 in order to avoid coronavirus. 

Despite relaxation in lockdown across the country particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Peshawar as well, the hairdressers in Peshawar are not being allowed to open their shops for five days in a week, he added that three days were insufficient to keep the shops open. 

He maintained that on one hand, the concerned days were not enough to run their businesses but on the other, timing to keep their shops are also an issue with them as from am09 to 07pm are less time for customers. The customers, he added often visited the barber shops for haircutting etc after evening because of summer. 

Criticizing Cantonment Board Peshawar (CBP), he alleged that it was pestering them to force them close their shops, levy professional and labour tax and fines shops if found open after 7pm, which he added was injustice with the barbers. 

The barbers appealed COAS and Core Commander Peshawar to let them open their shops late at night five days in a week in Cantt area so that they could reimburse the loan, which they borrowed from others to feed their children in lockdown and also give monthly salaries to their labours. He ensured to fully implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). 

The vc further said as per package of 12,000 rupees, only five percent of barbers had benefited while the rest could not get, therefore, the government should grant loan to hairdressers from Rs0.3 to Rs0.5million per barber’ s shop owner so that they run their business without any hurdle. 

They demanded of PM and CM KP to allow them to run their business five days in a week till late night and loan as well, failing which, they would be compelled to take to the streets and also move to Islamabad to stage their protest on July 18, 2020.