DNA

Karachi: SEPT 12 –  All Pakistan Restaurant Association (APRA), has expressed grave concern over the monopoly of food delivery companies, saying that Food Panda has made it a routine to blackmail the restaurants for increasing the commission and requested to Prime Minister Imran Khan should take immediate notice of this and formulate a policy at the government level for food delivery companies so that any kind of monopoly in this sector can be ended.

In a statement issued on Friday, APRA drew the attention of Prime Minister Imran Khan to the important issue facing the restaurant industry, saying that the restaurant industry operates at a profit of 10 to 12 pc only and Food Panda is paid 18pc delivery commission. Despite this, Food Panda is increasing the pressure on restaurants to increase their commissions and have threatened if the delivery commission of 25% to 30% was not done, they will stop the delivery of food.

“Food delivery companies do not comply with any agreement made with restaurants and they force to the restaurants to fire their food riders so that only food companies’ riders can give the food delivery “, APRA opined.

In addition, food delivery companies take customer’s data also and then transfer the order to their favorite restaurants, which has made restaurant owners fed up and now they are thinking to don’t work with these companies like Food Panda.

APRA requested Prime Minister Imran Khan to issue directives for formulating policy for food delivery companies under which they can be bound by rules and regulations. Otherwise, it will be extremely difficult to work for the restaurant industry, which is already facing financial crunch due to COVID-19 pandemic.