PESHAWAR: The wedding halls industry in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has lost Rs7 billion due to coronavirus lockdowns in the province during the last six months, hall owners claimed on Thursday.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hotel and Wedding Hall Association (KPHWHA) President Khalid Ayub told media that although the halls could not function due to lockdowns, huge electricity and gas bills were still received at the closed halls whereas the owners also have to pay billions in rents.
It may be mentioned here that the government has also lost Rs172 million in terms of taxes.
Ayub said that the government had promised that closed marriage halls would be given relief in rent, electricity, and gas bills; however, no such promise was fulfilled.
Now, he said, the government had assured them of a three-year tax break after multiple protests in the federal capital. “The government promised Rs5 m to Rs 30 m relief in taxes in addition to interest-free loans of Rs50,000 to Rs500,000 for hall employees but these commitments have not yet been implemented,” Ayub explained.
Further, hall owners have complained that among the 400 marriage halls in the province, 2 per cent of building owners paid 20pc in rent while 40pc of the owners got 50pc discount in rent.
“We demand that the government provide immediate relief in electricity and gas bills as promised so that the employment of millions of people in the marriage halls industry can be protected,” Ayub demanded.
KPHWHA Information Secretary Rahat Akbar Mughal told Profit that the industry provides jobs to 30,000 direct and 50,000 indirect to people in the province.
Mughal further said that the average minimum wage of direct employees working in marriage halls is Rs2.8 billion, adding that they have to take loans from the banks to run their business.
He warned that the industry will go bankrupt if not given relief by the government.
He added that those most affected by the industry at the moment included traders dealing in meat, beef, poultry, fish, milk, cereals, vegetables and fruits, oil and ghee, tissue, cutlery, and crockery. In addition, flower designers, photographers and video makers, singers, DJs, and music band members were also severely affected financially due to the lockdowns.
According to Mughal, out of 400 marriage halls across the province, if an average of 13 weddings and other ceremonies were held in these halls, the total number of ceremonies would be 5,200 per month, which would generate up to Rs1.04 billion per month.
The total amount received by wedding halls during the last six-month would have been Rs6.24 billion.
He said that the government has announced to open the marriage hall industry after other industries under SOPs but despite the implementation of the procedures, wedding halls are being sealed on a daily basis, causing further losses to the owners.
