Traders draw up plan to resume businesses in Punjab from 10th.

Byline: Khalid Hasnain

LAHORE -- Traders on Sunday finalised a plan for opening shops in Lahore and other cities and towns in Punjab from May 10 if the government further extends the lockdown.

The SOPs which are set to be presented by the representatives of the trader bodies to the Punjab government on Monday (today) have been finalised keeping in view necessary precautionary measures to avert spread of Covid-19.

'Since we have unanimously agreed in our meeting on Saturday to open shops across the province from May 10 in case of further extension of the lockdown, we have finalised comprehensive SOPs which will be helpful in ensuring safe business activities,' All Pakistan Anjuman Tajran General Secretary Naeem Mir told Dawn on Sunday.

'If you see the routine activities in the city, there is already no lockdown. Only the shops and small business centres which must be opened ahead of Eid are closed. The rest of the businesses (factories, offices, mills, construction etc) are going on as usual,' he claimed.

Office-bearers and representatives of more than 100 markets at a Traders Consultative Conference hosted by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday had urged the government to open markets and small industries immediately as the lockdown had become a nuisance for them. They said the traders were going through a very tough time and were on the verge of bankruptcy due to prolonged lockdown and suspension of trade activities.

They argued that if businesses could be opened in the USA, Italy, Spain, Germany and many other countries with certain precautions, why it could not be done in Pakistan. It's a season for businesses, they said, and the government would have to open all trade and industries with SOPs.

The traders would be compelled to open their markets/shops from May 10 if the government persisted with the lockdown, they said. They also prepared a charter of demand.

Mr Mir said the government had yet to come up with a positive response to their demands. 'They have not...