Sindh announces to open markets from tomorrow

KARACHI (92 news) – Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah on Sunday announced to open markets in the province from Monday. The Sindh government has allowed retail outlets and markets in the province to reopen from May 11. Community markets and retail outlets will be allowed to resume business from 6am to 5pm amid strict SOPs. Shopping malls and plazas, however, are excluded from the order. According to the SOPs, not more than three customers will be allowed to be inside a shop at a time, with a distance of four-five feet to be maintained between them. “If there’s a crowd outside the shops, the shopkeepers will be responsible to manage them while implementing social distancing rules. The businesses that fail to comply with these orders will be sealed.” The chief minister said that the decision was difficult for them as the health of the residents is of the utmost priority for the government, especially with coronavirus cases on their peak in the province. “We also realise that the businessmen and traders in the province are going through a tough time,” he added. The traders associations in the province have expressed their delight over the decision and have assured their compliance with the SOPs. The chief minister said that around 12,000 coronavirus positive cases have been reported in Sindh. “The lockdown has affected the business. Karachi is a city with big population so as more cases of the disease have been reported in it,” Shah said. “We had to take strict decision for maintaining social distancing during the prayers under the compulsion of the situation,” Murad Ali Shah said. He said that around 1100 positive cases of coronavirus were reported in the province yesterday, while over 700 cases also reported today.