Our Correspondent
Lahore
A strict lockdown started across Punjab on Tuesday as police closed shops while traders protested and dismissed the provincial government’s orders meant to mitigate the spread of coronavirus during Eid-ul- Azha.
Most of the shops in the province remained closed while some were reportedly open, which were closed down by local law enforcement.
However, some traders opened shops again after the police left. The business community across the province, including Lahore, has protested against the decision, calling the closure of businesses ahead of Eidul Azha ‘economic murder’.
Anti-government slogans were also raised during the protest.
Lahore’s Anjuman-e-Tajiran General Secretary Naeem Mir said in a press conference that the lockdown is not acceptable and business should be allowed to open till Eid.
“The government should make some considerations and immediately reverse its decision,” Mir said. “Markets all over Pakistan, except Punjab, are open. What is the fault of Punjab’s trader community? Traders should leave their homes and open shops.”
After the Punjab government announced the closure of markets from yesterday midnight till August 5 in line with the government’s measures to stem the spread of coronavirus during Eid ul Adha, several markets in Punjab were sealed over violation of lockdown orders on Tuesday.
Several shopkeepers were detained in Gujranwala for violating lockdown and showing resistance over the provincial government’s earlier orders, whereas, four shops were sealed in Sargodha and three shopkeepers were fined.
According to a notification by the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, “All educational and training institutes, marriage halls, business centres, expo halls, restaurants (except takeaway and home delivery), theme/amusement parks, public parks, play areas and arcades, beauty parlours and spas, cinemas, theatres shall remain closed.”
Grocery stores, bakeries, kiryana stores, fruit and vegetable shops along with chicken, meat and milk shops to remain open from 6am to 12am, while inter-city and inter-district public transport will remain operational 24 hours a day.
However, trade organisations of Lahore have rejected the government’s orders and said that they would open the markets. They were speaking to media after an emergency meeting called to discuss the latest government directives.
