A traffic police officer walks past barriers used to block the road in front of the British era Empress Market building, during a lockdown after Pakistan shut all markets, public places and discouraged large gatherings amid an outbreak of coronavirus disease. PHOTO: REUTERS
Confusion prevails over lockdown status in Sindh
Confusion remains over which businesses allowed to open
KARACHI: A few businesses returned to normalcy on Wednesday in Karachi, following the notification issued by the Sindh government about the lockdown the previous day. However, confusion prevailed about what activities were permitted.
Tailors, barbers and a few shops in Urdu Bazar, Saddar, opened on the day but were once again closed after the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced new guidelines about the lockdown in the afternoon.
The shopkeepers said that the police had restricted them from opening shops without an undertaking or permission letter by the relevant deputy commissioner.
According to them, due to the contradictory decisions of provincial and federal governments, they were uncertain about which businesses were allowed to operate and which ones were to stay closed.
However, businesses affiliated with the construction industry in Korangi, Bohrapir and other areas resumed partial operations. Some sanitary-ware, cement, and other hardware shops reopened, while many remained shut. Meanwhile, trade in the main markets of the city remained suspended.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 16th, 2020.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ