MITHI: People made a rush to shops of groceries, dairy products, vegetables, fish and meat to stock up on food after the chief minister announced on Sunday evening 15-day lockdown in the province but another shock awaited them at the shops where food merchants fleeced them with complete impunity.

Though most people appeared to have begun to pay heed to the government advice by opting to remain indoors, administrations in many towns failed to take preemptive steps to save them from profiteers.

In Mithi, traders of vegetables, fruit, fish and meat hiked prices with the announcement of lockdown though most people had remained indoors, only venturing out for purchase of food items.

In the bazaars of Mithi, Nagarparkar, Islamkot, Chhachhro and other desert towns, steep rise was witnessed in the prices of essential commodities with a jump of 15 to 20 per cent in the price of sugar, flour, cigarettes, pluses and other food items.

BADIN: Almost compete lockdown was observed across Badin district including the towns of Tando Bago, Talhar, Matli, Pangrio, Golarchi, Khoski, Kario Ghanwar, Tando Ghulam Ali, Nindo Shahar, Kadhan, Seerani, Malkani Sharif, Shadi Large and other small towns.

The few grocery shops that were open witnessed huge rush of customers who complained that shopkeepers were overcharging for all food items ahead of the lockdown.

They demanded the government take strong action against the profiteers who were taking undue advantage of the situation.

MIRPURKHAS: People in their thousands assailed local markets and bazaars to buy up food items, vegetables, meat and other edibles but they were shocked look at the price lists.

They complained to journalists that in the wake of announcement of lockdown, shopkeepers increased prices of all essential food items.

They condemned district administration for its failure to curb profiteering and said that many poor people had to return to their houses without buying food because of prohibitively high prices.

They demanded the chief minister take stern action against profiteers and hoarders and award them exemplary punishment.

DADU: People were left at the mercy of profiteers who fleeced them with complete impunity as the administration had not taken any preemptive measures to control price hike after the announcement of lockdown.

People complained to Dawn that vegetable merchants were selling their merchandise at triple the actual price. Sanitisers, soaps had also seen sudden rise in price.

They said the administration was not ready to take action against hoarders and profiteers and appealed to chief minister to take action against the anti-social elements and provide relief to citizens.

SANGHAR: Sanghar city and all the towns in the district including Shahdadpur, Tando Adam, Khipro, Sinjhoro and Shahdadpur Chakar remained shut in response to the government’s decision of lockdown to check spread of coronavirus.

Only medical stores, shops of groceries, milk and food items were open and they were overcharging for their merchandise. Masks, sanitisers and gloves were selling like hot cakes and at very exorbitant price.

Meanwhile, Tando Adam police arrested five men for keeping their shops open despite lockdown.

HYDERABAD: All main roads wore a deserted look and main shopping centres, popular tea shops and stalls remained closed across the city in response to government directives to observe social distancing. People remained confused about whether filling stations were exempt from the lockdown.

Some pockets in old city area reportedly remained open but police had now started taking steps to ensure that these areas too were closed.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Ayesha Abro has directed all officials to ensure implementation of Sindh’s government directives for lockdown.

At a meeting of officers in Shahbaz Hall, she directed all assistant commissioners to approach religious leaders and social workers to cooperate with administration.

Hyderabad SSP Adeel Hussain Chandio urged people to extend cooperation to provincial government and administration and stay safe in their homes.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2020