Shopping malls, markets reopen in Karachi, Sindh as lockdown ends

Karachi and Sindh returned to pre-lockdown commercial and business activities Monday as the province limps back to normalcy following the Sindh government's decision to relax restrictions.

Shops located in Karachi's busy Bolton Market area started opening for the first time after a nine-day lockdown, imposed from July 31, ended today. 

Under the revised curbs, the following will apply:

• Market and business activities may continue till 8pm. This includes standalone grocery stores, fish and meat shops, vegetable and fruit vendors, e-commerce, and bakeries.
• Essential services allowed to open longer. These include pharmacies, medical facilities, vaccination centres, petrol pumps, milk shops, and tandoors.
• Businesses to remain closed on Fridays and Sundays.
• Indoor dining will not be allowed.
• Outdoor dining is allowed for a maximum of 300 people till 10pm under strict coronavirus safety precautions.
• Takeaway and home delivery are allowed 24/7, subject to strict adherence to safety measures with staff and delivery personnel fully vaccinated.
• Indoor weddings banned.
• Outdoor weddings allowed with a maximum of 300 guests till 10pm with strict enforcement of safety protocols.
• Shrines to remain closed.
• Cinemas to remain closed.
• Indoor gatherings, including cultural, musical, religious events prohibited.
• Outdoor gatherings allowed for a maximum of 300 guests with strict enforcement of safety protocols.
• Contact sports banned.
• Gyms to allow only vaccinated individuals.
• Offices to only call 50% staff to work.
• Public transport to run on sanctioned routes with 50% occupancy and staff fully vaccinated. Snacks are not allowed onboard the vehicles.
• Railway services to continue with 50% occupancy, subject to enforcement of strict safety protocols and vaccination of all staff.
• Amusement parks, swimming pools and water sports facilities to remain closed.
• Public parks to remain open subject to the following of safety measures.
• Tourism activities to only be allowed for vaccinated individuals.
• Domestic airlines to no longer serve meals or snacks.
• Wearing of masks compulsory at all public places.

Restrictions will be imposed again if COVID-19 cases rise again: Shah

However, the Sindh government has warned that if coronavirus cases continue to surge across the country, strict restrictions may be imposed once again.

PPP leader Nasir Hussain Shah, speaking on Geo News programme Naya Pakistan Sunday had claimed that due to the nine-day lockdown period, a drop in cases has been witnessed.

Shah had regretted that the provincial government, "instead of being supported, is criticised".

He had said that all decisions taken by Sindh were made keeping in view recommendations by the National Command and Operation Centre.

The PPP leader had said that if need be, a stricter lockdown will be enforced, adding that it was a tough task for the government to get the public to strictly follow coronavirus safety protocols.

Speaking of Muharram, which may begin on Tuesday, he saihad d that indoor majalis will be allowed, subject to social distancing and wearing of masks.