PESHAWAR: Both shopkeepers and customers blatantly violated the standard operating procedures issued by the government to stem the spread of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in Peshawar on Monday as the businesses reopened after a closure of 50 days.

The customers mostly women along with minor children flooded bazaars and markets without wearing face masks or following others safety guidelines.

The provincial government had declared the use of face masks mandatory for the people stepping out of home.

“What I saw today was the beginning of a nightmare called the pandemic in every sense of the word. No social distancing, no masks and zero enforcement. We don’t seem to realise what this pandemic means. We may soon see the same multitude thrivingbazaars, flooding hospitals if this madness continues,” said Wazirzada, a bookseller in the main Peshawar city.

133 held in Peshawar for violating guidelines

Long queues of vehicles were seen in different areas due to traffic jams. Vehicles moved at a snail’s pace in other areas.

“The situation is chaotic as people didn’t adopt safety measures, whereas shopkeepers rarely followed SOPs,” resident Mohammad Amin said, adding that the situation was the worst at around 4pm, the official closing time for almost all businesses.

The district administration detained 133 people, including shopkeepers, on charges of violating lockdown guidelines.

A statement said deputy commissioner Mohammad Ali Asghar asked traders to follow SOPs for own and customers’ protection from coronavirus.

In some areas, including University Road, Bara Road and Qissa Khwani, the traders opened shops on Saturday in violation of the government’s decision.

However, the business community began activities in the markets of other areas, including Peshawar Saddar’s. The bazaars, especially those located in narrow streets, attracted customers in large numbers.

According to the provincial government’s decision,all businesses will be closed by 4pm.

A notification of the relief, rehabilitation and settlement department said all businesses would remain closed across the province on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Though office-bearers of the trader bodies, while repeatedly requesting the government to open bazaars, had promised to enforce the social distancing protocols strictly in all markets, the promise wasn’t kept by and large.

The business activities had begun secretly since the advent of Ramazan a few weeks ago. The traders used to keep shop lights switched off and doors closed while dealing with customers.

Many shopkeepers told Dawn that the prolonged lockdown had badly suffered business and that they, especially the smalltime ones, had to spend whatever saving they had in hand.

There seemed to be no check on the movement of pushcarts and the loading and unloading of goods on the city’s main roads during peak business hours, which led to the clogging of roads.

The situation stressed out customers as they were in a hurry to complete shopping by 4pm.

Adviser to the chief minister on information Ajmal Wazir said the government was monitoring the situation.

“Businesses, which do not follow guidelines and SOPs circulated by the government, will be sealed,” he said in a statement.

Mr Wazir said 359 quarantine centers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with could accommodate 22,483 people and that the centres had been set up in different districts.

He said 443 staff members were taking care of the people kept in quarantine centres.

The adviser said 1,932 people had returned through eight flights at the Bacha Khan International Airport.

He said 1,140 people were sent home after they tested negative for Covid-19, while 792 people continued to be in quarantine centres.

Our Correspondent from Charsadda adds: The tehsil municipal administration used water cannon to disperse the people, who thronged bazaars on Monday for shopping after the easing of lockdown.

Most shoppers, including women and children, neither observed social distancing nor used face mask.

The administration made announcements requesting the customers and shopkeepers to follow SOPs, but to no avail.

Our Correspondent from Swabi adds: The people flocked markets and shopping centres after easing of lockdown and didn’t take precautionary measures against novel coronavirus.

The shoppers didn’t observe social distancing. The people were seen shake hands and hug.

Only a few people wore face mask in markets of the district headquarters and Topi tehsil.

Hamza Ali of Maneri Bala area complained about the unavailability of face masks on the market.

Women shoppers went to the Link Road area in district headquarters and Meena Bazar and Raja Bazaar in Topi tehsil headquarters in large numbers.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2020