The announcement by the Punjab government to close all markets in the province from today till August 5 to check the spread of Covid-19 during the Eidul Azha holidays triggered anger among traders.

The traders rejected the government’s move and announced that they would not pull their shutters down come what may.

Sharjeel Mir, a traders’ leader, in a video message said when the government started the lockdown to combat the coronavirus the traders launched an awareness campaign and supported the safety measures to contain the spread of the virus.

He said traders had already suffered huge losses due to the closure of businesses and cannot afford another lockdown. “If the government insisted on the nine-day lockdown, the traders will strongly resist it.”

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