Govt warns of sealing shops, markets violating SOPs
Chief secretary says it is vital to follow SOPs with ease in lockdown
KARACHI:
Shops and markets violating the standard operating procedures (SOPs) devised by the government to curb the spread of Covid-19 will be sealed, warned Sindh chief secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah on Wednesday.
He was presiding over a meeting held to discuss the implementation of the SOPs, where he maintained that SOP violations would not be tolerated. He added that a strict lockdown would have curbed the spread of the virus.
"Now that everything has reopened, the disease can only be prevented from spreading further by following the SOPs," he said, pointed out that all traders and trade associations had given assurances about the implementation of SOPs and signed undertakings.
"We have all worked in emergencies, but this is an unprecedented situation," he said, asking the information department secretary to publish the SOPs in newspapers in order to create awareness about coronavirus.
During the meeting, a grievance committee was also formed to resolve the complaints of the traders.
Meanwhile, Sindh police chief Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar suggested that officials penalising traders for SOP violations should film activities at shops or markets for transparency.
The Karachi additional commissioner apprised the meeting that 170 shops, markets, bachat bazaars and parlours, had been sealed since June 5, while a total of 687 violations had been recorded and six FIRs registered for the offence. Shah directed him to submit a daily report on the action taken against SOP violations.
Meanwhile, the transport secretary informed the meeting that 87 passenger buses had been impounded for violating the government's advisories, adding that passengers were arriving in Karachi and Hyderabad from different cities in the late hours of the day and action should be taken against this.
Shah directed deputy commissioners and SSPs to take action against inter-city passenger buses in their districts.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2020.
Shops and markets violating the standard operating procedures (SOPs) devised by the government to curb the spread of Covid-19 will be sealed, warned Sindh chief secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah on Wednesday.
He was presiding over a meeting held to discuss the implementation of the SOPs, where he maintained that SOP violations would not be tolerated. He added that a strict lockdown would have curbed the spread of the virus.
"Now that everything has reopened, the disease can only be prevented from spreading further by following the SOPs," he said, pointed out that all traders and trade associations had given assurances about the implementation of SOPs and signed undertakings.
"We have all worked in emergencies, but this is an unprecedented situation," he said, asking the information department secretary to publish the SOPs in newspapers in order to create awareness about coronavirus.
During the meeting, a grievance committee was also formed to resolve the complaints of the traders.
Meanwhile, Sindh police chief Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar suggested that officials penalising traders for SOP violations should film activities at shops or markets for transparency.
The Karachi additional commissioner apprised the meeting that 170 shops, markets, bachat bazaars and parlours, had been sealed since June 5, while a total of 687 violations had been recorded and six FIRs registered for the offence. Shah directed him to submit a daily report on the action taken against SOP violations.
Meanwhile, the transport secretary informed the meeting that 87 passenger buses had been impounded for violating the government's advisories, adding that passengers were arriving in Karachi and Hyderabad from different cities in the late hours of the day and action should be taken against this.
Shah directed deputy commissioners and SSPs to take action against inter-city passenger buses in their districts.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2020.