PESHAWAR/DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The Peshawar district administration on Monday arrested 235 traders and sealed 71 shops in the provincial capital during an operation also assisted by the army and police to ensure compliance with the standard operating procedures against the Covid-19 pandemic.

An official statement issued here said the operation was carried out in Warsak Road, University Road, GT Road and Charsadda Road areas.

Deputy commissioner Khalid Mehmood also urged the traders to ensure implementation of the official pricelist and avoid hoarding during Ramazan.

In Dera Ismail Khan, the police arrested 13 traders for opening shops despite lockdown.

Dera additional deputy commissioner Iqbal Khan Wazir accompanied by the secretary Regional Transport Authority visited various bus terminals and impounded 22 public transport vehicles for violating the lockdown. He also sealed several bus terminals.

However, most business centres in Dera remained closed. On the other hand, the business community in Dera protested against the lockdown.

The traders said businesses should be allowed till Eid so they could make up for the losses caused by restrictions.

Forced by the lockdown the barbers have started making haircuts of people in their homes.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2021