Faisalabad wakes up to life under ‘lockdown’

Educational institutions, marriage halls and markets remain closed

FAISALABAD: Amid the ongoing crisis caused by the coronavirus threat that has been worsening ever since the first case was reported in the province, departmental stores in markets, mosques and other places of worship have been closed.

Under the preventive measures taken by the district administration, all public spaces, including educational institutions, seminaries and marriages halls were already closed.

Reportedly, certain roads and buildings were closed as well, but issues of hoarding of essential items such as face masks and sanitisers and profiteering persist.

As per details obtained by The Express Tribune, all markets, shopping malls, grain markets and restaurants will remain closed for three days in Faisalabad district, keeping in view the threat of coronavirus.

So far, educational institutions, seminaries and wedding halls have effectively remained closed. Instead of offering prayers in congregations, in mosques, citizens have now adapted to the new situation and begun offering prayers at home. The steps taken under the directives of the provincial government were aimed at protecting the citizens from the virus. Citizens also appear to be taking these precautions seriously for their well-being and for the sake of the protection of public health.

On the contrary, even under the lockdown hoarders and profiteers continue their desperate attempts to fleece the people. In addition to profiteering on surgical masks, the sale of fake masks had become common. Sanitisers and masks are being sold at unreasonably high prices.

This situation has caused concerns among the residents of Faisalabad as a whole, but it is severely affecting the working class.

Faisalabad Assistant Commissioner Zainul Abideen announced that markets and shopping malls will remain closed due to the lockdown. “Medical stores, grocery stores, bakeries, flour mills, tandoors, milk and yogurt shops, meat shops, vegetable shops and fruit and vegetable markets will not be affected by this restriction.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2020.