NAROWAL: The violation of coronavirus SOPs continues openly in bazaars, markets, hospitals, and other places.

The Punjab government issued specific SOPs for the public and vendors in bazaars under which shopkeepers are to wear face masks and arrange sanitisers and social distancing for the visitors.

Dawn observed citizens and shopkeepers are equally violating guidelines, especially in the markets of secondhand clothes. No district administration official is seen in the field to enforce SOPs.

Members of the public Imran Farid and Mohammad Naveed said the government closed educational institutions to protect children and their parents from coronavirus but the people gathered in bazaars, markets, shopping centers and other places.

Muhammad Akmal and Bashir Ahmed said that the number of people infected and dying from coronavirus was higher in Europe than in Pakistan. He said warm clothes being sold in flea markets were imported from Europe.

“Why does the government allow these used clothes to be sold in the market without corona testing?” Akmal said, adding that secondhand clothes imported from Europe could spread the virus. On the other hand, those visiting the lunda bazaars have their own reasons to justify their visits.

Rasheed Bibi said they were suffering from inflation, unemployment and poverty and had hardly any means to buy new clothes.

Assistant Commissioner Syeda Tahnit Bukhari said action was being taken against the violators of SOPs without any discrimination. She said several shops had also been sealed.

Assistant Commissioner has sealed six restaurants for violating SOPs on Saturday.

Published in Dawn, Jannuary 3rd, 2021