Punjab Government Exempts IT Sector From Anti-Smog Lockdown

The Caretaker Government of Punjab has revised its anti-smog smart lockdown order, exempting the IT sector and categorizing it as an essential service. According to the government’s notification, e-commerce, international IT centers, call centers, software houses, and telecom services will continue to operate.

The updated order exempts the following from closure:

1. Pharmacies/Medical Stores
2. Medical Facilities and Vaccination Centers
3. Petrol Pumps, Oil Depots
4. Tandoors, Bakeries, Grocery/Karyana stores, Milk/Dairy Shops, Sweet Shops, Vegetable/Fruit Shops
5. Chicken/Meat Shops
6. E-commerce/Postal/Courier Services and Utility Services (Electricity, Natural Gas, Internet, Cellular Networks/Telecom, international IT Centers, and call centers)

The remaining orders will remain unchanged.

Read more : Punjab Declares Smog Emergency, Keeps Schools Open

The Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT and ITES (P@SHA) had written a letter to the caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab, requesting an exemption for the IT sector from the decision to close offices and businesses due to severe smog conditions.

In the letter, Chairman P@SHA, Muhammad Zohaib Khan, outlined the detrimental effects of a business shutdown, including disruptions to IT exports, damage to Pakistan’s international reputation as a reliable IT service provider, and potential customer distrust. He urged the provincial government to issue an immediate addendum to the notification to exempt IT exporters, call centers, and related businesses, allowing them to continue their operations under strict health safety protocols, as they did during the pandemic.

Following P@SHA’s request, the provincial government has now revised its order, exempting the IT sector from the anti-smog lockdown.