1,260 shops, 48 factories sealed in Faisalabad

Action taken against markets, restaurants over SOP violations

FAISALABAD: At least 1,260 shops, 48 factories and 2,679 transport vehicles have been sealed in the district during the past eight days for violating anti-coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs) on the instructions of Punjab government.

In addition to registering cases against two shopkeepers for serious violations, fines of Rs3.523 million was imposed for not following government directives, challans were issued to owners of 8,755 vehicles and 2,651 were given warnings. Sharing the details during a briefing, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muhammad Ali said action was being taken against shops, markets, shopping malls and restaurants for lack of social distancing and not using sanitisers and face masks.

“More stringent action is being taken to prevent the spread of the virus,” said Ali.

The DC said that other administration officers, including assistant commissioners, had been taking action against the absence of sanitisers in shops, not maintaining social distance in markets and shopkeepers not wearing face masks.

“The shopkeepers are also being urged to not allow crowd in shops,” remarked the DC.

The official maintained that the Punjab government had issued instructions to strictly implement the SOPs regarding coronavirus.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2020.