A GUIDE TO TRACK THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON INFORMAL

ECONOMY OF GILGIT BALTISTAN

The covid-19 pandemic has the potential to infect 40 to 70 % of world’s population. Till today,

around 15,00000 people have been confirmed infected and 100,000 deaths in 211 countries.

Similarly, 4788 people have been infected in Pakistan, resulting in 72 deaths. In Gilgit Baltistan

211 have been infected and 4 cases of deaths including 2 medical professional recorded.

This pandemic brought every single country close to a global recession. Which means every

country man will face the negative consequences of low economic growth. Government of Gilgit

Baltistan should initiate serious steps to assess the impact COVID-19 on informal sector. The

segment dependant on daily wage.

There is lot we don’t know about the COVID-19, but one thing is clear that poor will suffer

more. Because they have no backup plan for any economic decline. Poor workers especially those

working in private schools, hotels, restaurants, retail shops, transportation, carpenters etc.

In this regard, number of civil society organization and NGO’s are playing a key role by advocating

community institutions, volunteers and business community to stay home and follow the

directions of medical professional. In addition, number of community organizations and

volunteers have initiated a social responsibility task to provide locally made low cost face masks

in coordination with local administration. This will help local government to meet the shortage

of face masks.

Despite of everything, I have tried to formulate a viable guide for tracking the post covid-19 crisis

in informal sector of Gilgit Baltistan. We have few months to plan and act before it gets too late.
 The Guide

The below guide classifies the primary informal sectors that could easily be affected.

Sector Process/Method Indicator/ Measurement Tool

Education and  Closure of educational institutions and  Number of public and private schools,
Training centres other related vocational and training colleges, and university campus in each
centres district of G-B
 Number of individuals working on daily
basis
 Number of vocational centres

Tourism  Reduction in foreign tourists  Number of hotels providing

 Reduction in domestic tourists accommodation in each district
 Average spending per tourist
 Number of individuals directly working
in hotels etc.
Retail  Reduction in supply and demand of  Number of retailer in each district and
products income difference monthly
 Reduction in demand due to decrease
in income

Agriculture  Reduction in demand for local  Data of annual sale of agriculture items
agricultural items in district
 Loss of agriculture items due to low  Data of loss occurred due to absence
demand of transportation

Transportation  Reduction in road traffic  Number of vehicles in each district

 Average loss to each transporter and
group

Manufacturing/r  Reduction in supply of raw material  Number of local informal

epairing sector  Reduction demand manufacturers in each districts
 Number of people engaged and average
loss of income

By: Faheem Baig

A development practitioner based in Hunza