LAHORE: Taking action against blatant violation of the Covid-19 precautionary measures, the government on Thursday sealed as many as 215 retail shops, including a known shopping centre near Model Town Link Road.

According to a spokesman for the city district administration, besides sealing shops, the officials also issued warning notices to scores of shopkeepers for ensuring arrangements to control the contagion.

Following direction from Lahore DC Danish Afzal, AC City Tabraiz Marree along with the SP City visited Shahalam Market, Anakali Bazaar and Azam Market, Islampura, Beadon Road and got 160 shops sealed for not following the Covid-19 protocol.

Raiwind AC Adnan Rasheed, after holding a meeting with the law-enforcement agencies, visited the Raiwind Bazaar where he got 12 shops sealed.

Cantt AC Ms Marsia Saleem got 27 shops of famous brands sealed in DHA (Y Block) market.

Model Town AC Zeeshan Nasrullah Ranjha visited Model Town Link Road, Chungi Amar Sidhu and Ferozpur Road and got 15 shops sealed on violations. He also sealed Pace shopping centre.

Similarly Shalimar AC Maloof Mehdi inspected Ghari Shahu and Harbanspura Bazaar and issued warnings to shopkeepers.

Moreover, Minister for Trade and Commerce Main Aslam Iqbal, DC Lahore and DIG Operations Rai Babar visited Liberty Market where they inspected coronavirus-related measures. They urged the shopkeepers to adhere to instructions and measures related to the deadly virus.

GUJRAT: As many as 21 shops have been sealed and hefty amounts of fine imposed on the traders for violation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in Gujrat and Kharian teshsils of the district.

Gujrat Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Jameel paid an inspection visit to the city’s main Muslim Bazaar, Jewellery market and other adjoining markets where some shopkeepers and their salesmen were not wearing the face masks and hand gloves.

Besides, the AC said there had been no social distancing parameters adopted in the several shops for the customers who were seen violating the distancing and most shopkeepers had also encroached upon their shop limits by displaying their goods for sale in front street of their shops which was another major cause of causing reduction in space for the customers to move in the market.

He deplored that the despite making commitments to follow the SOPs, most of the traders were themselves found violating the protocols and had also made encroachments which could not be tolerated as per government policy.

The AC who was also accompanied by the police and other related staff, immediately sealed 16 shops and imposed a fine of Rs125,000 on six shopkeepers for committing gross violations.

Similarly, Kharian Assistant Commissioner Faisal Abbas Mangat sealed five shops in Kharian city and also imposed a hefty fine on others for committing violations of SOPs notified for opening the businesses.

The district administration has also directed the civic agencies to take action against the encroachments in their respective cities particularly in the commercial areas, streets and markets.

GUJRANWALA: The district administration sealed a number of shops on Thursday and had their managers arrested for not following the SOPs.

Deputy Commissioner Suhail Ashraf said the government had allowed small markets and shops to open and thousands of people visited the markets for Eid shopping so the district administration took notice and decided to seal the shops.

Assistant Commissioner city Usman Sikandar visited Satellite Town, Fareed Town and other markets where thousands of people were shopping while the owners neglected the SOPs. The AC sealed a number of shops.

Shops were sealed in Kamoki and Wazirabad as well.

KASUR: The district administration and local traders locked horns over the SOPs set by the provincial government.

The traders refused to follow these SOPs in a meeting with the deputy commissioner.

A delegation of traders met DC Manzar Javid and demanded relaxation due to Eid. They said police should ensure that people wear masks.

The Kasur tehsil administration had sealed nine shops including bakeries and pharmacies for violating deadline of 5pm.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2020