Markets witness shopping frenzy in total disregard of Covid-19 precautions.
Byline: Mohammad Asghar and Munawer Azeem
ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI -- After a three-day lockdown, citizens thronged markets of the twin cities on Monday, ignoring the standard operating procedures (SOPs) like social distancing.
It seemed that the lockdown imposed in the capital in the last week of March after the outbreak of the coronavirus has almost been lifted. Only a few activities still remained closed, including educational institutions, restaurants and public transport.
In Rawalpindi, shops and businesses are allowed to open from 8am to 5pm.
Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat said all shopping malls, shops and retailers' outlets, barber shops and salons were allowed to open seven days a week.
He said all marakiz, commercial centres, malls, retailers' outlets, barber shops and salons will remain open after Eid too.
On May 9, the capital administration had extended the lockdown to May 31. On May 11, however, it allowed opening of all marakiz and commercial centers five days a week.
On Monday, majority of the markets and commercial centres were crowded and there was no space for parking and even enough room for people to move around easily.
The most important part of the guidelines was to maintain social distancing but it was not being followed anywhere, especially at garments and cloth shops and stalls.
People were not wearing masks, gloves; sanitisers not available in shops
Besides, people were also not wearing masks and gloves and there was no availability of sanitisers in shops for the shoppers. Traders' unions were made responsible to get the guidelines implemented but they failed to ensure it, said one official.
The closing time of Marakiz and commercial centres is 5pm but this was also not being followed.
The guidelines were violated everywhere but more at G-9, Blue Area, Bhara Kahu and Taramri and the situation was not different at I-10, G-10, G-11, F-6 and F-7 markets.
Moreover, the capital administration also issued an SOP for Islamabad Golf Club under which all members should sign an undertaking prior to a game otherwise they will not be allowed to play.
Rawalpindi
Thousands of people, including women and children, thronged markets and roads in Rawalpindi on Monday.
The most crowded places included Fawwara Chowk, Raja Bazaar, Moti Bazaar and Commercial Market in Satellite Town.
Long queues of...
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