Sindh to ease lockdown from Monday despite spike in virus cases

In this file photo, a policeman wearing a facemask stop a commuter beside a closed mosque during Friday prayers on a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Karachi on April 17, 2020. (AFP)

• Essential shops in rural and residential areas will reopen while malls and entertainment spots will remain shut
• Sindh follows the central government and declares complete lockdown on weekends

KARACHI: Pakistan’s southern Sindh province will start easing the lockdown restrictions from Monday in line with the decision of the central government, announced the province’s chief minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in a press conference on Friday.
The decision comes at a time when the south Asian nation recorded 1,764 new infections and 35 deaths reported in a single day on Friday.
“Shops will stay open from dawn (Fajr) till 5 pm,” the chief minister announced adding that “Saturday and Sunday will be safe days with 100% lockdown as per the decision of stakeholders taken in National Coordination Committee (NCC).”
He said that while essential shops and stores in rural and residential areas will reopen from Monday, all offices will remain closed along with malls, big markets and public gathering places.
Shah further said that construction and related industries will be exempted from restrictions but all other industries will remain shut May 9 onwards until further notice on May 31. 
“All industries and businesses not cleared for opening before May 9, 2020, mega shopping malls and plazas, restaurants, hotels, wedding halls, cinemas, sports events and concerts, places of big gatherings, public processions and public congregations will remain shut,” he said.
The chief minister apprised that Sindh has already allowed selected outpatient departments (OPDs) in hospitals and 667 factories in the province to operate as they pledged to adhere to the regulations through undertakings.
“We have asked factory owners to provide us with the name of workers, their national identity cards, addresses and contact numbers so that could be traced in case of any mishap,” the chief minister said.
The CM dispelled the impression that Sindh was not following instructions from the federal government. “We may not agree with federal government’s decisions but we are working to create national harmony,” Murad said.
However, the traders slam the decision to ease the lockdown as “confusing and unclear.”
“The federal government has not clarified about the other businesses apart from the announcement to open small shops and construction industry,” Kashif Chaudhry, president of central traders body, said in statement issued on Friday.
Reacting on the decision of Sindh government’s plan to permit shopping activities only in residential areas, the traders’ representatives termed the decision as disappointing.
“In Ramadan, close to Eid ul Fitr festival, the traders have been further pushed toward hunger with business shutdowns,” Mehmood Hamid, president of All-Pakistan Organization of Small Traders and Cottage Industries, said. 
Noting that easing the restrictions could lead to an increase in coronavirus cases, Shah urged the citizens to strictly adhere to public safety measures and stay home as much as possible, even with the restrictions are lifted. 
“If you are allowed to leave your homes, according to the directives issued by the government, then make sure to follow standard operating procedures. Wear a mask.” the chief minister said.