Punjab government has told the district administrations to strictly enforce the coronavirus preventive standard operating procedures (SOPs) in markets during the ongoing Eid shopping.
The government is also planning a lockdown in the province during the Eid holidays from May 8 to 16 to strictly implement a policy of 'Stay home, stay safe'.
To implement the government's directives to deal with the traditional crowding in markets for Eid shopping, the district authorities and security forces' officials will play their role to implement the SOPs .
"A meeting of high ups of Punjab government was held a couple of day ago in which Punjab Chief Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik stressed strict implementation of the SOPs. Following this, all commissioners and district administration officials were instructed to strictly implement the SOPs on May 6 and 7 as there will be crowding in markets for Eid shopping," Punjab government sources told The Express Tribune.
They added that the government had already announced a lockdown from May 8 to 16. In addition, Wednesday and Thursday will be the last days for the shopping and a rush to the markets is expected despite the heath risks. In view of the situation, instructions have been issued to all district administration officials to enforce the SOPs.
The restrictions are already in place in the major cities and security officials are deployed in front of the markets to ensure their enforcement.
The security forces also playing a role in ensuring that the shops are shut on the time set by the government and monitoring the implementation of the SOPs.
However. the situation in the markets of big cities, including Lahore, appears to be out of the control of the authorities, where a number of big markets need the deployment of more police and security officials for implementing the SOPs .
Despite increasing crowding in the big markets, most people are still ignoring the SOPs.
A shop owner in Anarkali market, Arshad Hussain, said, "Although there is the risk of the spread of coronavirus, a large number of people are visiting the markets of all big cities for the Eid Shopping. There is a rush for shopping among families because everyone is aware that there will be a lockdown."
He said a minority of the citizens comprehended that the situation regarding the pandemic and most of them was alarming and most of them were ignoring the SOPs during shopping.
"We are following the SOPs regarding the timing but we are unable to impose the restrictions of social distancing and face mask during the Eid season," the shop owner added.
When contacted, Punjab health department spokesman Sayed Hamad Raza said about the plan for the Eidul Fitr week, "It will not be a complete lockdown but the shopping malls, markets and tourist spots in the whole province will be closed."
Following the instructions of Punjab government , the SOPs regarding Ramazan shopping will be strictly implemented through the local governments and security forces.
"Shopkeepers are strictly advised to close the shops before 6pm, while there should be no one without a mask in the markets. The citizens and market administrators should follow the policy of social distance during the shopping." he said.
The spokesman warned that all shops where violation of social distancing and other SOPs is observed will be sealed a and their owners will have to pay fine.
Beside the markets, the Punjab government has also decided to ban tourism in and outside the cities and all tourist spots and parks will remain closed during the Eid holidays.
Cinema and theatre halls, which were popular places of entertainment in previous years, will also be closed.
Meanwhile, 58 more deaths due to coronavirus were reported in Punjab during the psst 24 hours, including 19 in Lahore, while 2,087 new patients of the disease were confirmed.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2021.
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