SIMDI CEO Dr. Mariyam Shakeela has said that the private sector can do a lot in terms of recovering from the impact of COVID-19, adding that it serves no purpose for the private sector to sit and play the blame game.

Dr. Shakeela made the statement during a webinar hosted by FNF South Asia dubbed "Restart Asian Economies Ideas and Actions for the Hotel Industry". She highlighted that the tourism sector could be revived by working together towards the common goal.

"We all know that the government cannot achieve anything alone. So we need the support of the public to facilitate the smooth progress. And failure to accomplish the goal, the loss will not be the government's loss it will be a collective loss," she said.

Dr. Shakeela also added that we need to bypass the politics of politics and uphold national interests above our personal interests and agenda. As such she added that it serves no purpose for the private sector to sit and play the blame game and stressed that they are working together with the government to find a solution to the current issues.