Sindh to reopen gradually from today.

KARACHI -- Sindh Chief Minister Syed MuArad Ali Shah, in his meeting with small traders associations, announced to open shops and markets, except plaza and shopAping malls, from Monday mornAing under a Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

'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 lockdown will start from 5 pm sharp,' he said.

He expressed these views while addressing the smalls traders who met him here at Auditorium of Sindh Assembly Building, said a spokesperson to the CM Sindh on Sunday.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, Dr Azra PeAchuho, Saeed Ghani, Imtiaz ShaiAkh, 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 various organizations of the traders.

The Chief Minister announced that community markets, retail outlets, stand-alone/neighbourAhood shops, excluding shops situated in Malls and Plazas) would resume their business acAtivities from 6 am to 4pm, from Monday to Thursday.

He said that he was well aware that the small traders were passAing through a very serious situaAtion because their businesses had been closed down due to coronavirus epidemic.

'I know your [traders] posiAtion, but I had one option either to save life of our people or alAlow the business activities thrivAing 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 said that the lockdown had produced good results which was also acAknowledged by the traders comAmunity.

Syed Murad Ali Shah said that it was not his unilateral decision to impose lockdown but the deAcision was taken with collective wisdom.

'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 Fajir 6 am to 5 pm, he said.

The Chief Minister said that he was grateful to the trader's community who strengthened his government hands in impleAmenting the lockdown.

'You have kept your business activities closed for two months

therefore you have been affectAed badly but we have to find out new way of life of living,' he said. Murad Shah said that construcAtion industries and community markets/ retail outlets...