Sindh CM announces to open all markets from May 11

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, in a bid to facilitate traders and business community, announced to open all markets from Monday (May 11).

As per reports, markets, shops except malls will be open from Monday. The decision has been taken during a meeting between the chief minister and traders which was held on Sunday.The markets, including community stores and retail shops, will open from 6am to 4pm. Murad said that the provincial government took strict decisions in a bid to curb spread of the coronavirus and save lives of people. He urged public to practice social distancing.

However, the CM directed the shopkeepers to follow the SOPs or strict action will be taken against the violators. He said that those shops where SOPs will not be followed will be sealed. On the occasion, the traders assured the CM that they will follow the SOPs set by the government.

Earlier Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah declared that the Sindh government will work alongside the Center to implement the new lockdown measures for the mitigation of the coronavirus outbreak. “We will implement the federal government’s lockdown decisions to the extent of 99pc if not 100pc,” he said. The chief minister said that businesses will be allowed to operate five days a week and will remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays, with the exception of those granted exemptions such as grocery stores and pharmacies.

On Saturday, President All Pakistan Organization of Small Traders and Cottage Industries (APSTCI) Karachi Mahmood Hamid on Saturday said that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah should make a clear announcement regarding opening of markets in Sindh.

In a statement, Mahmood Hamid said that the traders were disappointed and they had been forced to starve when the Eid-ul-Fitr was approaching after the Holy month of Ramadan.