Shopping malls, markets, shops and restaurants remained closed for the third day in a row across the country, including Karachi, to deal with the intensity of the third wave of Corona.
According to the government’s decision, the intercity bus service also remained closed, however, the limited movement of citizens in private vehicles continued. The district administration closed down dozens of shops in South Karachi district on the information of doing business with half shutter in different areas including Korangi, Mahmoodabad, Paposh Nagar, New Karachi, Kemari, Saddar, Aram Bagh, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Federal B Area. The entire market was sealed off by the administration after opening shopping malls in Korangi Dunbar area. The shopping malls in Karachi are completely closed but the traffic on the routes is normal.
There is an extraordinary rush in the evening hours for Iftar shopping. In Karachi, while shopping for Sehri and Iftar, social distances are being taken care of and the negligence of the citizens is continuing. Apart from selling goods outside their homes and local markets, traders are also doing business with half-shutters against which action has been taken in Bolton Market and Saddar areas. After Iftar, different areas of Karachi like Mahmoodabad, Korangi, Clifton, Ranchhor Line, Papushnagar. , Hussainabad, New Karachi, including some shops in different areas suddenly open where there is a rush of people.
People selling various necessities on stalls and rocks in different bazaars of Karachi have faced severe difficulties due to closure of business and they have started selling food items on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr by shifting their livelihood. Clothing, shoes and other items are being sold on the occasion of Bacha Karid where the goods are collected immediately after the arrival of the management and the sellers of goods disappear from the sight of the management. Similarly, the shopkeepers working with half shutters immediately close the shutters. The sale of garments and other goods on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr on the rocks in the streets of different areas of Karachi is limited and some areas where business is open for a limited time after Iftar are being voiced in various quarters.
Political circles say that everything should be closed in lockdown, it should not be the case that shopkeepers are allowed to open business by taking money from a market, bribes are being taken from traders in the name of Eid and Businesses that do not pay are being shut down. No action has been taken by the administration for the third day in different areas of Karachi including Mahmoodabad, Korangi, Kemari, Orangi Town, New Karachi after Iftar and opening of other businesses including hotels and tea houses.
In addition, there has been an increase in the sale and purchase of goods at the local level in addition to domestic stores in connection with the preparation of Eid on rocks. In most parts of Karachi, after Iftar, home-based boutiques, stores, and local preparation for Eid at the local level. The buying and selling process has accelerated in the country, while in addition to online buying and selling, local shoppers have the facility to purchase items.
