FAISALABAD: Two gunmen looted cash from a pharmacy late on Thursday where they came in the guise of customers to buy masks in Al Masoon Town.

Demand for face mask has increased after the reports of a suspected coronavirus case in Faisalabad while students distributed free masks to people on Friday.

Pharmacy owner Fahad Anwar, of Al Masoom Town, said first a man entered the pharmacy and asked for the mask. He also showed him a mask as a sample which he wanted to buy, however, the shopkeeper told him that such masks were not available.

He said the man called one of his accomplices, who suddenly pulled out the pistol and held the staff at gunpoint.

CCTV footage of the robbery was also shared with the media which showed that a gunman wearing pants and coat kept pointing gun at the pharmacy staff while his accomplice collected Rs80,000 from the pharmacy.

Police registered a case with no arrest.

Meanwhile, a group of students distributed masks free of cost among the people on Friday at different traffic signal spots.

Talking to reporters, students said pharmacy owners had increased the price of masks manifold to take the advantage of the situation as people were panicked due to reports of the virus.They said the profiteers would try to exploit the situation, however, they would not let them loot the people. The said attack of coronavirus could be avoided by using face mask carefully.

The mask box which is normally sold at Rs125 is being sold now at Rs2,000, they said, adding industrialists attached with the textile sector must come forward and manufacture mask for free distribution among masses.

Published in Dawn, February 29th, 2020