Rawalpindi residents flock to markets

Violate ban on pillion riding, social distancing

RAWALPINDI: As the district administration moves towards the implementation of a ‘smart lockdown’ in the city, people flooded the streets of the garrison city on Sunday.

People confined to their homes for weeks came out on to the streets on Sunday, flocking markets.

The ban on pillion riding was flouted while rickshaws ferried passengers to their destinations. Rush was witnessed outside stores with only a few stores managing to get people to follow the social distancing rules.

The security personnel also turned a blind eye to the violations during the day, considering that most of the people had come out to purchase items for iftar and sehri.

Tri-wheeler Qinqis kept plying on their designated routes before the lockdown deadline. People could be seen sitting close to each other on these modified contraptions even though the number of positive novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in Rawalpindi surged over 284.

Most of the businesses in different localities, which were not exempted, continued to operate behind closed shutters. Taxi services were also operational in the city during the day.

The police and security personnel, however, were stern in implementing the lockdown orders after the 5pm deadline.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2020.