Shopping rush ahead of Eid
A woman sifts shoes on display at a shop to pick a perfect pair for her young daughter to flaunt on Eidul Azha. The government has imposed a ‘smart lockdown’ till August 5 as a strategy to prevent Covid-19 resurge in the province. PHOTO: RIZWAN ANWAR/EXPRESS
After the Punjab government announced to extend the lockdown in the province until after Eidul Azha to prevent the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) from spreading, it triggered panic buying on Monday.
A large number of people flocked to the markets of the city, creating traffic snarl-ups in and around the major markets of the garrison city on Monday. Thoroughfares including Murree Road, Saidpur Road, Mall Road, Haider Road, and other arteries were clogged with bumper-to-bumper traffic in the hot weather.
The rush of people on the roads was such that ambulances and rescue vehicles also got stuck in congested traffic. Traffic police officials said that the rush of vehicles on the roads of the city was unexpected, creating the gridlock.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2020.