Traffic snarl-ups as twin cities reopen

Offices and courts resume work

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: Massive traffic jams were witnessed in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Monday as businesses reopened.

This even as the number of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in Islamabad and Rawalpindi rose to 2,589 and 2,563 respectively along with 28 and 96 associated deaths.

As part of the 'smart lockdown' introduced by the government, to prevent the spread of the Covid-19, shopping malls, bazaars, and other markets opened for business on Monday. Offices also reopened along with courts and schools.

However, the Metro Bus Service - which plies between the twin cities, remained shut. Recreational places such as cinema halls, parks, etc also remained closed.

The markets early on Monday morning, unlike in the past. have been open since morning. Schools, which have been granted conditional permission, opened with limited staff but with no in-school teaching activities involving students.

Medical stores, which are exempted from the lockdown, remained open along with shops and centres selling food items such as dairy products, meat, poultry, groceries and vegetables.

Restaurants built along the highways were open, but could not entertain any dine-in requests. However, they continued serving takeaway and delivery orders.

The district administration and health department disinfected some 235 places in Rawalpindi on Monday.

Courts resume

The district courts also reopened in Rawalpindi division. Similarly, the district courts in Jhelum, like in the rest of Punjab, also started hearing regular cases on Monday.

The sessions judge across Punjab were directed by the Lahore High Court (LHC) to start hearing cases as per routine.

The high court had further also issued a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the judicial staff, litigants, lawyers, police and other people visiting the courts to protect them from Covid-19. The SOPs stipulate that all courtrooms will be fully sanitized before hearing cases. The letter further directed that no one will be allowed to enter the court premises without a face mask or gloves.

Action against hoarders

The Rawalpindi district administration on Monday continued its action against profiteers and hoarders. Teams of the district administration and price magistrates, headed by the district magistrate, inspected as many as 281 shops across the district.

They imposed fines worth Rs86,000 on 48 vendors for selling food items at exorbitant prices. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2020.