Murad announces opening of community markets, retail outlets from 6am to 5pm.

KARACHI -- Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in his meeting with small traders associations announced to open shops and markets, except plaza and shopping malls, from today (Monday) morning under an SOP he shared with them.

'Now, the business activities would operate from 6am to 4 pm and there will be grace period of an hour to close the shops and return to their home - because the lock down will start from 5 pm sharp.'

This he said while addressing the small's traders who met him here at Auditorium of Sindh Assembly Building. The meeting was attended by The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, Dr Azra Pechuho, Saeed Ghani, Imtiaz Shaikh, Nasir Shah, Ikram Dharejo, Advisor Law Murtaza Wahab, Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, IG Sindh Mushtaq Maher, Home Secretary Usman Chachar, Adl IG Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon, Qasim Siraj Teli, and leaders of different organizations of the traders.

The chief minister announced that community markets/retail outlets, stand-alone/neighbourhood shops, excluding shops situated in Malls and Plazas) will resume their business activities from 6 am to 4pm, from Monday to Thursday.

He said that he was well aware that the small traders were passing through a very serious situation because their businesses have been closed down due to coronavirus epidemic. 'I know your [traders] position, but I had one option either to save life of our people or allow the business activities thriving at the cost of our lives,' he said and added he chose to save life of the people at the cost of business activities. He went on saying that the lockdown has produced good results which was also acknowledged by the trader's community.

Murad Shah said that it was not his unilateral decision to impose lockdown but the decision was taken with collective wisdom. 'The Prime Minister had chaired a meeting to discuss the post May 9 situation (when lockdown was ending) so that lock down could be eased off,' he said and added the prime minister's meeting was attended by all the chief ministers and prime minister of AJK and chief minister of Gilgit Baltistan in which he had opposed two proposals: opening of public transports, including train, and air traffic and [proposal] to allow business activities from 8 pm to 12 am. 'I am grateful to the federal government that they accepted his request and announced opening of business activities, except shopping Malls, Plazas, hotels and restaurants,' from Fagir- 6 am to...