Srinagar July 12:(KNS)   Following the orders of the District Administration Srinagar that restaurants will be allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity, President, Restaurant and Cafe Association of Kashmir (RAK), Sheikh Feroz has welcomed the decision and termed it as a huge respite for people associated with the industry.

Due to successive lockdowns, the industry has been adversely hit especially due to pandemic enforced lockdown and restrictions. The RAK President had previously accompanied the KCCI delegation led by Secretary General, Farooq Amin, and apprised the authorities of the plight of the people of this industry and the impact of continuous restrictions on livelihood of the people
associated with the industry.
The sector which employs thousands of people and is a source of livelihood for thousands of families, the delegation had urged authorities to allow reopening of restaurants and assured that
proper Covid-19 SOP’s will be followed in order to contain the
contagion.

Even though, following the easing of lockdown, the restaurants had started functioning in Kashmir, only take away and home delivery facilities were available.
As the cases of Covid-19 are receding, the President expected that the decision to reopen will help revive the industry and soon people and tourist will return to restaurants following proper
Covid-19 appropriate behaviour. President, RAK has thanked the KCCI especially its President,
Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad, and General Secretary, Farooq Amin for their support, cooperation and assistance in raising issue with the higher authorities and help the suffering industry.

President, RAK also expressed his deep gratitude to Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, Chief Secretary, Arun Kumar Mehta, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, PK Pole,  Deputy Commissioner Srinagar and Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Mohammed Aijaz for listening to the issues and acknowledging the difficulties of the industry and people associated with it and promptly issuing orders allowing reopening of the restaurants.(KNS)