Eid Shopping to Continue till chand raat, announces All Pakistan Traders Association

"We ought to be allowed to operate businesses 24 hours as the Saudi government did," said Baloch, adding if the government does not have the means to provide assistance to the business community, then it should not ask trades to shut down their businesses.

Eid Shopping in Pakistan to Continue till chand raat, announces All Pakistan Traders Association
picture showing a busy jewellery market. Photo: File.

ISLAMABAD: In disobedience of the government’s coronavirus protocols for the Eid ul Fitr holidays  (May 8 to May 16) during which all marketable activities are to stay banned, the  All Pakistan Traders Association on Friday evening proclaimed that traders will continue to operate businesses from tomorrow till chand raat  — a day before Eid.

“We ought to be allowed to operate businesses 24 hours as the Saudi government did,” said Baloch, adding if the government does not have the means to provide assistance to the business community, then it should not ask trades to shut down their businesses.

According to the All Pakistan Traders Association President Ajmal Baloch, as against the instructions of the government, all markets and businesses will work across the country, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.

https://93e5138158cacc298bc2dd28b9aa6a3f.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html A day ago, the deputy commissioner of Islamabad had declared that a complete lockdown would be enforced in the federal capital from today (May 7) in a bid to reduce the increasing number of coronavirus infections.

Public transport will be banned after 6pm, the deputy commissioner had said, adding that all parks, entertaining places, and commercial areas will also be shut down after 6 pm.

The authorities will make sure that people follow the government’s instructed “Stay Home, Stay Safe” policy, the deputy commissioner added.

The Sindh government also declared a new set of curbs as part of the national “Stay Home- Stay Safe” drive to curb coronavirus during the Eid holidays.

In a notification circulated by the Sindh Home Department, the provincial government said that the new curbs will stay in place from May 9 to 16.

Corresponding to a notification released in this regard, all markets, businesses and shops will remain shut during the time except vital services. Special Eid bazaars / ‘Chand-Raat Bazars’ mehndi, jewellery/ornaments shops shall stay shut during the period being non-essential.

Two days ago, the Punjab government had also declared that a comprehensive lockdown will be levied across the province during the Eid holidays (May 8 to May 16) to limit the escalating number of coronavirus infections.