Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar, during his visit to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce, announced a relief package of Rs 5 billion for the traders affected by the fire at Hafeez Center.
According to details, the government will collaborate with Punjab Bank to provide soft loans up to Rs 1.6 billion to almost 207 victims to help them recover and resume their business activities.
Punjab Bank has already started offering these loans to victims at a camp office in the IT tower. Soft loans will be given for shop purchases, renovation, construction, and purchasing of supplies.
Meanwhile, Hafeez Center is currently sealed for inspection, and many traders have shifted their shops to other centers.
According to reports, the rents of the nearby shopping plazas and centers have skyrocketed since the fire incident at Hafeez Center. Many traders have voiced their displeasure on the local administration’s decision to seal Hafeez center as they have not been able to resume their business, traders that have moved to nearby plazas are also willing to move back to Hafeez Center.
It is being reported that the government’s initiative to provide the relief package will take some time to come to fruition.
