Major markets, shopping centres sealed in Karachi over violation SOPs

KARACHI: Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shallwani has ordered the sealing of a number of major markets and shopping centres in the metropolis for violating the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by Sindh government before easing the COVID-19 lockdown for traders and the public.

According to details, In the East district, three major stores Limelight, Shoe Planet and Stylo were sealed for permitting large crowds inside the shops.

The markets and shopping centers shuttered in the South district include Zainab Market, Saddar; Victoria Centre, Saddar; International Centre, Saddar; Madina City Mall, Saddar; Al-Haram Centre, Garden; Gul Plaza, Garden; and Jillani Centre, Arambagh. two beauty salons were also sealed in the district for not following the SOPs.

The commissioner said in a statement, “These shops and markets have been sealed as they were violating the SOPs despite warnings and my personal visits to all these markets.”

He warned that the businesses of shopkeepers who do not implement the government-mandated SOPs will be sealed.

Regarding the move, Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has said the markets were allowed to open under SOPs, adding that most of the shops and markets were crowded.

He said that many markets which are famous for Eid sale especially in the Saddar area were very crowded and there was a procession situation which is deplorable.

Murad Ali Shah said that if the social distance and SOPs are not met by the trader, then the markets where SOPs are being violated would be sealed. He said that the shopkeepers of Zainab Market have violated SOPs by not wearing gloves and masks.

Meanwhile, on the order of high-ups, police reached the markets to help the district administration after they faced difficulty in sealing the market following the protest by traders.

Earlier, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani had said that no shopkeeper or customer would be allowed inside any market without a mask, stressing that the permission to reopen shops was linked to compliance with the SOPs.

Sindh Home Department had changed business opening hours in the province after easing coronavirus lockdown.

According to the notification issued by Sindh Home Department, traders can open businesses from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm. Traders will be allowed to do business from Monday to Thursday.

The unnecessary movement of pubic will be banned from 5:00 pm to 6:00 am the latest order reduced the timing of business activities in the province for one hour, the notification read.