The smart lockdown imposed by the Sindh government in Karachi to contain the spread of coronavirus has been rendered largely ineffective as while the local administration and law enforcement agencies succeeded to close down business centres to a large extent, they failed to stop people’s movement in the neighbourhoods identified as Covid-19 hotspots, officials and sources said.

People defied the standard operating procedures and their free movement was seen in most of the areas under lockdown with no checks from authorities concerned. In many areas key business centres remained closed but transport and people’s movement by and large remained as usual.

Traders and businessmen also came up with a strong reaction against the smart lockdown saying it was creating confusion and only affecting their businesses while failing to serve its original purpose.

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