RAWALPINDI: The provincial government closed all bazaars and markets from Sunday to Tuesday morning to avoid the spread of coronavirus. However, grocery shops, petrol pumps and chemist shops would remain open.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that all bazaars and markets expect general stores, grocery shops, petrol pumps and chemist shops will remain closed.

“These measures have been taken in an effort to keep people indoors.”

He said all educational institutions had already been closed and people were seen turning to picnic spots. So the government closed all parks, restaurants and markets.

Step taken to keep people indoors, says official

Police have been asked to arrest those shopkeepers who opened their shops.

On the other hand, traders termed the decision good but asked the government to also close markets in Islamabad. They said the government should have issued one-day’s notice before implementing the decision.

Punjab Traders Association President Sharjeel Mir told Dawn that the business community was not against the closure of bazaars and markets but “we should be given time to pay salaries or arrange necessary food items for our workers and salesmen so they will not face any problems.”

He said all markets had been closed after the government’s message. Traders accepted the directive of the government and did not resist as it was in the larger interest of the nation.

He said the traders’ association had asked all markets and bazaars to implement the orders and not open shops till further orders. He said it was a sort of lockdown.

However, he feared that closure of bazaars and markets may be extended and for that traders had made preparations. He said traders should be taken into confidence before taking such a decision.

Meanwhile, the traders association of cantonment areas expressed resentment and asked the government to close all markets and bazaars in Islamabad too.

“Police arrested those shopkeepers who were not aware of the government decision. The government should inform the traders a day before implementation of its orders,” said Cantonment Traders Association General Secretary Zafar Qadri.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan was not in favour of a lockdown but the provincial governments of Punjab, KP and Sindh had closed down bazaars and forced daily wagers to stay in their houses.

“Shops have been closed but the government should check stalls and vendors who can also be affected by the virus,” he said.

On the other hand, officers of the district administration remained vigilant on Sunday to ensure implementation of the instructions.

Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Anwarul Haq visited the city and examined working of field officers and concerned departments.

He said assistant commissioners and other related officers also visited different localities and ensured closure of markets, shopping centres and public parks.

He said a district control room and database centre had been made fully functional to update the current situation regarding coronavirus. He said quarantine facilities had been arranged at Fatima Jinnah Women University and University of Engineering Taxila.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2020