Is the virus inactive before 6pm, ask traders

Shopkeepers raise concern that shorter work hours mean larger crowds, call for relaxed measures

KARACHI:

"Does the coronavirus come only at 8pm? Will it not be active at 6pm?" asked Bakht Ali, vexed by the restrictions imposed by the government once again in attempts to curb the second wave of the pandemic.

Objecting to the new timings, Ali, who runs a tailor shop in the port city, opined that markets should be permitted to open from 8am to 8pm. "Everyone in Karachi is asleep at 6am!"

Like the rest of the world, the city of lights, notorious among Pakistan's cities for its night life, too adjusted to the new (ab)normal forced upon us by the deadly virus.

Earlier this year, amid complete and partial lockdowns, Karachiites were forced to adjust their nocturnal routines - most offices may work from nine to five but markets and bazaars typically operate from noon to near midnight. Restaurants, eateries, cinemas would remain open long past - and adopt work timings beginning soon after morning prayers.

That is, until a few months ago, when the government discarded such restrictions and resumed life as it was pre-pandemic with the exception of the coronavirus-related standard operating procedures on which it insisted.

Now, with the second wave of the pandemic sweeping across the country and in an attempt to avoid complete closures, the authorities have restricted work hours from 6am to 6pm and ordered markets shut - with the exception of essential services - on Fridays and Sundays.

Traders and shopkeepers, however, who are still recovering from the losses incurred earlier this year worry that this may make matters worse.

Muhammad Ismail, a jeweller at Tariq Road, told The Express Tribune that he and fellow traders were facing heavy losses due to early closures of shops. "Markets have become more crowded due to the limited hours," he said, noting that this would only worsen the spread of the virus.

As the authorities insist on implementation, allegations of some officials taking advantage of this also surface.

According to Ali, the police round up people if shops are open past the permitted time and release them only in exchange of money. In commercial areas, he claimed, the police allow shops to remain open after accepting bribes. "The government should at least consider our self-respect and permit us to work till 8pm," he urged.

Similarly, Muhammad Hanif, who has been running his shop at Tariq Road for three decades, lamented that the restrictions had increased financial burdens when there was already rising inflation in the country. The nights are longer in winter, he said, seconding Ali's suggestion of closing markets at 8pm.

The government's much slated restrictions are to remain in place until January 31, much to the dismay of traders.

All Karachi Tajir Ittehad's Atiq Mir also objected to the new restrictions, insisting that only Sundays should be designated as off days for markets. The government should provide free masks to traders and restrict the police from issuing penalties for no reason too, he added.

The provincial government's restrictions have come at the heel of the National Command and Operation Centre's decisions in light of the second wave.

However, addressing a press conference at Insaf House on Wednesday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmaker Firdous Shamim Naqvi opined that market hours should be increased instead of reduced, as adopting the latter approach would only increase crowds in markets.

He noted though that the federal government was trying to avoid complete lockdowns.

Crediting the premier for smart and micro lockdowns, Naqvi censured the Pakistan Peoples Party and the opposition for holding public meetings while also imposing restrictions on the public.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2020.