RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government on Sunday issued a notification to change the business hours and weekly closure of bazaars and markets in Rawalpindi district in the wake of Covid-19 surge.

Traders will close shops by 7:30pm and take an off on Fridays and Saturdays, Rawalpindi Traders Association president Sharjeel Mir told Dawn.

Usually, notifications are not issued on Sundays due to closure of government offices.

Earlier, the provincial government had asked the district administrations across the province to ensure bazaars and markets are closed by 6pm from Mondays to Fridays and remain shut on Saturdays and Sundays.

However, traders’ association in Rawalpindi contacted Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and his nephew PTI MNA Sheikh Rashid Shafique with a demand to change the closing timing from 6pm to 7:30pm and weekly markets closure on Fridays and Saturdays.

Upon this, the interior minister managed to convince the Punjab government to accept the demand of the local traders. The provincial government issued a new notification in this regard on Sunday.

On the other hand, all markets and bazaars in the city remained open on Sunday. The business activities started after 12 noon. In the morning, police and local administration officials tried to close down the shops but soon after the issuance of the notification, the shopkeepers were allowed to reopen.

Mr Mir said that a delegation met the interior minister and the PTI MNA who managed to send the recommendations to the Punjab government through the local administration.

He said it was not possible for the traders to close shops three days a week as usually Friday is an off day in Raja Bazaar and other areas.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2021