Business hours increase, as Sindh extends lockdown

The Sindh government has extended the lockdown period, alongside increasing the number of business hours, with business activities that will now be allowed in the province five days a week from 6 am to 7 pm.

After the meeting of the National Coordinating Committee (NCC), the Sindh Home Department issued a notification, under which the provincial government has extended working hours for business activities in the province. The lockdown in Sindh has been extended till June 30.

According to the Home Department notification, all markets and shops will be open five days a week from Monday to Friday and business hours will be from 6 am to 7 pm.

Hardware, electrician shops, car spare parts market and mechanic shops will remain open. However, medical stores and grocery stores will be open all week, but there will be a complete lockdown on Saturdays and Sundays.

According to the notification, all educational institutions, training institutes, wedding halls, business centers, expo halls, sports clubs and gyms will be closed, besides all kinds of sporting tournaments, amusement parks, beauty parlors, cinemas, theaters, tourist spots, furthermore, ban on public gatherings will also remain in place.

According to the notification, restaurants and hotels will be allowed home delivery and takeaway, in addition to mandatory services and pharmacies, shops will be allowed to be open from 6 am to 7 pm, these working hours will be for five days a week.

According to the notification, citizens have also been urged not to leave their homes unnecessarily and when going to public places, they must wear face masks and keep a social distance of three feet.

A final decision on whether to reopen the public transport service in the province will be taken in a meeting chaired by the transport minister today (Tuesday).

Prior to the commencement of the transport service, the transporters will meet with the Department of Transport to implement the SOPs.