Small markets, retail shops in city to open four days a week from today.

Byline: Tahir Siddiqui

KARACHI -- Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced that shops and markets, except shopping malls and plazas, would open from Monday (today) under a standard operating procedure (SOP) he shared with the representatives of small traders in a meeting on Sunday.

In the meeting with leaders of small traders' associations, he said that the businesses would operate from 6am to 4pm and there would be a grace period of an hour to close the shops and return to their home because the lockdown would be imposed from 5pm sharp.

The meeting, held at the auditorium of the Sindh Assembly Building, was attended by provincial ministers Dr Azra Pechuho, Saeed Ghani, Imtiaz Shaikh, Nasir Shah, Ikram Dharejo, Adviser Murtaza Wahab, Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, IGP Mushtaq Mahar, Home Secretary Usman Chachar and leaders of different traders' organisations, including Siraj Teli.

The chief minister announced that community markets/retail outlets, stand-alone/neighbourhood shops, excluding shops situated in shopping malls and plazas, would resume their activities from 6am to 4pm, from Monday to Thursday.

The chief minister said that construction industries and community markets/ retail outlets, shops in rural areas, neighbourhood shops located in residential localities would operate from 6am to 4pm.

Trade bodies assure CM of following SOPs; malls, barbers' shops, beauty parlours, clubs, parks will not open

He added that Saturdays and Sundays would be observed as 'safe days' with all sectors/retail closed other than essential sectors or those with a continuous process.

Barber shops, beauty parlours to remain closed

The chief minister said that the sectors that would continue to remain closed were all industries/businesses not cleared for opening till May 9, shopping malls, plazas, educational institutions, offices that were not cleared for opening till May 9, restaurants, hotels, marquee, marriage halls, cinemas and places of large gatherings, public processions, gatherings, congregations of all nature and organised sports events and concerts.

He said that barber shops, beauty parlours, hair cutting salons/spas, game centres, video games, carom/dabbu clubs, pools, game shops, gyms, cafes, sit-in eatery, social clubs and parks would also remain closed.

The CM said that he was well aware that small traders were passing through a very serious situation because their businesses had been closed down due to...