Markets, public transport to remain closed during Eid holidays
Zubair Qureshi
With Eidul Fitr drawing near, Islamabad’s shopping malls and markets are swarmed with customers for “Eid Shopping” flouting all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Covid-19.
The Islamabad administration had issued strict warning to all those who violate SOPs during the Eid holidays.
Islamabad on Tuesday reported 283 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and two deaths during the past 24 hours.
With these latest additions, Islamabad’s total number of deaths have surged to 693 and cases, 76,492.
Meanwhile, the district administration has issued more restrictions on different activities during the Eidul Fitr vacation i.e. from May 8 to 16 in compliance with the decisions of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) to prevent further spread of Covid-19.
A notification issued from the office of the deputy commissioner said except essential services all markets, Marakiz, malls, commercial activities, businesses and shops will remain closed.
Essential services include medical services, pharmacies, medical stores, and vaccination centres, grocery stores, vegetable, fruit, chicken and meat shops, bakeries, petrol pumps, food takeaways an e-commerce (home delivery), utility services (Iesco, SNGPL, sanitation, environment, water directorates of CDA and MCI), internet, cellular network, telecom, call centres and media.
On Chand Raat, all bazaars will be closed, including mehndi, jewellery, ornaments and clothing stalls.
Bazaars, stalls will not operate on Chand Raat, further says notification
Tourist spots, picnic points, tourist resorts and hostels, restaurants in and around tourist spots will also remain closed.
These tourist spots and parks include Lake View Park, Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument, Murree Point, Pir Sohawa, shrines, F-9 Park, Jasmine Garden, Damn-i-Koh, Rawal Dam, Shahdara hill stations, trails (for picnic purposes), Shakarparian and Lok Virsa Centre.
All inter-provincial, inter-city and intra-city public transport will be banned to and from Islamabad.
The ban will not be applicable on private vehicles, taxis/cabs, rickshaws with 50 per cent occupancy and medical and other emergency services transport.
