Open stores amid pandemic threat

Marketgoers throng markets across Islamabad as virus cases surge and government eases lockdown

ISLAMABAD: With coronavirus cases continuing to surge across Islamabad, the federal government’s decision to ease the lockdown has landed the capital territory in further perils of the contagion’s spread. Citing the economic crisis the virus restrictions had created for the people of Pakistan, the government announced the reopening of businesses in phases starting last weekend. Since then, thousands of shoppers have flocked the markets across Islamabad and Rawalpindi in anticipation of Eidul Fitr. The marketgoers, showing little to no regard for social distancing and other precautionary measures advised by the government, have put the city at risk of a possible increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in the coming days.

According to Dr Naveed Ata Malik, the virus right now is a threat more serious than ever before. “Easing the lockdown will catalyse the spread of the disease and we currently don’t have the healthcare infrastructure to deal with a situation like that. Prayers alone cannot solve our problems, we have to remain vigilant and observe all necessary precautions if we are to get through this,” he warned.

“Eid is around the corner and shops have been allowed to remain open for a slot of eight hours a day only. This means a lot of people try to throng the shops at the same time which leads to massive crowds in markets. In addition to that, most people tend not to sleep after sehri during Ramazan and hence wake up late. This means one o’clock in the afternoon to four o’clock in the evening is peak rush hour when all main streets, markets and stores are jam-packed with people,” explained a resident Islamabad.

Per details, the government had instructed markets to follow certain SOPs to curb the risk of the contagion’s spread, while allowing businesses to open. However, it appears most markets in Islamabad have flouted the government’s rules, which has raised the eyebrows of those who have been maintaining social distance and quarantining at home.

“Is there a point to the remaining few still isolating when the entire country is out?” tweeted a resident of Islamabad, while expressing his qualms about the government’s decision to ease the lockdown. “Kids, babies, men, women, all were out and about in the markets. We are doomed,” responded another twitter user in the same thread.

On the other hand, various shopkeepers from Islamabad main markets including Aab Para Market and Jinnah Super Market said that they support the government’s decision but it’s not solely up to them to ensure that people follow the SOPs. “We are trying to follow the government’s orders but the citizens should also cooperate with us. They should bring masks from home and regularly sanitise for their safety and the safety of those around them,” commented Arshad Abbasi, a local shopkeeper. “Millions of rupees have been lost due to lockdown. The goods in the shops have completely deteriorated and people are annoyed by inflation and fear. These are difficult times for everyone and we must all work together to overcome,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2020.