Islamabad DC orders shops closure at 5pm

Step taken in view of shop timings in Rawalpindi

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hamza Shafqaat has announced that the shops in the federal capital would be closed at 5pm during Ramzan as a preventive measure against the coronavirus. He said that the measure has been taken in line with the Punjab government as Islamabad was adjoined with Punjab.

Earlier, shops in the capital were allowed to operate till 8pm, which created disparity with timings of the neighbouring city of Rawalpindi and people used it to their advantage for circumventing the lockdown restrictions.

However, he added that the medical stores and restaurants will remain open for delivery and take away orders from 8am to 8pm.

Apart from the eateries, confectionary shops and property dealers have also been exempted from the lockdown and timings for them would be from 8am to 8pm during the lockdown.

DC urged the citizens to ensure implementation on government orders regarding prevention measures are being, adding that those were being taken in the public interest with the aim of protecting people from this deadly virus.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th, 2020.