MARDAN: The local chapter of Barbers and Beauticians Welfare Association has appealed to the government to review its decision of imposing complete lockdown from May 8 to May 16 as the hairdressers have already faced severe financial difficulties.

Naveedzada, the president of Barbers and Beauticians Welfare Association, told this correspondent that they had already suffered huge losses due to Covid-19.

He said that the government was again planning to impose complete lockdown from May 8 to May 16 that would ruin their business.

“We are already unable to pay rent of shops, utility bills and even daily wages to our workers,” he added.

Naseebzada demanded of the government to announce compensation for hairdressers as majority of them belonged to poor families.

Ameen Khan, the owner of a barber shop, urged the government to avoid imposing complete lockdown. He said that they would be unable to buy Eid clothes for their children if complete lockdown was imposed.

He said that their business was on peak few days ahead of Eid. “So, it will be injustice to stop us from doing business by imposing complete lockdown,” he added.

He demanded of the government to review its decision of imposing complete lockdown across the province from May 8 to May 16.

On the other hand, rush of customers has been increased in the markets after announcement of the planned lockdown.

Dr Aurangzeb, the district health officer, told this correspondent that the coronavirus could easily transfer from one person to another.

He feared that the situation would go out of control if people did not follow precautionary measures.

He said that people from different areas were visiting the barbershops in Mardan city in a large number.

He urged people to stay in their homes and avoid joining rush to remain safe the pandemic.

“People must strictly follow the standard operating procedure if they go out of their homes for performing some necessary and unavoidable task,” said the district health officer.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2021