Twin cities markets continue to defy lockdown orders

Orders by the provincial government to impose a lockdown in the city to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading were largely flouted by residents as they chose to continue shopping.

On the second day of the nine-day lockdown notified by the provincial government, to ensure social distancing in markets, police and district administration sealed some shops in different areas of the city. However, in the main business areas of the city, law enforcers were restraint to avoid any untoward incident.

The main markets in the city including Raja Bazaar, Bara Market, Urdu Bazaar, Bani Market, Moti Bazaar, Narankari Bazaar, Purana Qila, Iqbal Road, and others remained opened and operated normally.

Traders said that they were doing business in compliance with the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), adding that they have only refused to close businesses before Eidul Azha.

Kashif Chaudhry, from the Islamabad-based Pakistan Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran, said that traders and businessmen have rejected the extension to the lockdown in Punjab.

He condemned the arrest of an assault on traders by the Punjab police in different parts of the province.

He added that despite the tyranny on part of the government, the markets and bazaars in Punjab remained open on Wednesday and life continued normally.

“We are not competing with the government but raising our voice against its unwise decisions,” he clarified.

Chaudhry said that publicly insulting traders who were the backbone of the economy and a source of employment to millions was condemnable.

The representative of traders said that a countrywide convention of traders will be summoned after Eidul Azha where they will announce a protest movement against the government’s imprudent decisions.

Choudary said that the decisions of the incumbent government have broken the back of the traders as well as the country’s economy.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2020.