Aneel Ahmed Usmani
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Karachi: Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah yesterday announced the reopening of retail shops, residential and community markets across the province from Monday, May 11 by giving a temporary easiness in the lockdown.
The official Twitter handle of CM House posted a video where the chief minister had announced the easiness in the lockdown after a meeting held with the small traders’ association at the Sindh Assembly Auditorium.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announces opening of shops ……. pic.twitter.com/RDBT2PSwGm
— CMHouseSindh (@SindhCMHouse) May 10, 2020
“Shops and markets in Sindh will reopen from Monday with the exceptions of plazas and shopping malls under the umbrella of standard operating procedures (SOPs),” Murad announced.
Murad also said that “Business activities throughout the province will be allowed to operate in flow from 6am to 4pm from Monday to Thursday. One hour would be given as a grace time to implement closure of all the shops.”
Subsequent to which, the lockdown will then start from 5pm sharp and continue until the next morning,” chief minister said further.
In the light of the CM Sindh announcement, the following businesses will reopen from Monday on prescribed timings:
- Construction activities and related manufacturing industries
- Retail outlets
- Neighbourhood shops located in residential areas
- Shops in rural areas
- Community Markets
Following businesses will remain closed:
Shopping malls, plazas and all other sectors and businesses that were not cleared for reopening after May 9, all educational institutions, restaurants, hotels, marriage and cinemas halls, public gatherings, processions, congregations, sports events and concerts, public transport, barber shops, beauty parlours, spas, game centres, gyms, cafes, social clubs and parks will also remain closed.
While talking to a delegation of small traders, CM Sindh said that “I know your difficult position. But I had the option of either saving lives or allowing business activities to continue at the cost of our lives. I chose to save lives,” he said.
Shah also told the delegation that the Sindh government has taken the decision on easing lockdown measures by taking on board the federal government.
The chief minister also appreciated the stance of the federal government for accepting his requests on the aforementioned issues and reaching to a rational consensus on easing lockdown measures.
The meeting was also attended by provincial ministers, Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar, Chief Secretary Sindh Mumtaz Shah and Sindh Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Maher, among other officials.
