KARACHI: All business and commercial activities across Karachi and other parts of Sindh will stop from tomorrow (Friday) as per the government’s orders amid the third wave of the pandemic.
Friday May 7 will be observed as ‘Safe Day’ and all business will remain close. All commercial and business activities will be completely closed from May 8-16 due to the extended Eid holidays. Business will resume as normal from Monday May 17.
The traders of Karachi have rejected the government’s notification to close commercial activities from May 8 to 16 amid the third wave of coronavirus pandemic.
President All City Traders Union Sharjeel Goplani said Karachi traders were already worried about the reduced Eid shopping hours. They urged the government to increase business hours to end the rush of people to the market. They said the business community should be allowed to continue their business till midnight.
Chairman Anjuman-e-Tajiran Ilyas Memon said that prolonged closure of businesses would further aggravate situation of daily wage workers. Rizwan Irfan of Electronics Dealers Association said that markets should be allowed to open 24 hours in the last ten days of Ramazan.
Idris Gigi of the Federal B Area Association of Traders said the long Eid holidays will have a detrimental effect on industrial activities and factories will fail in completing export orders on time. He said the government should only announce three days Eid holidays.
The owners of wedding halls have also demanded to reopen halls immediately after Eid. President Decorators Association Qais Sheikh urged to open halls immediately after Eid.
The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) had announced six-day Eid holidays in the country amid COVID surge besides also adopting a stay home, stay safe strategy.
The NCOC had announced Eid holidays in the country from May 10-15 and decided to close tourist spots, public parks and small bazars. It was further decided to close all shops, businesses and markets except essential services during Eid holidays.
