Closure of telecom franchises to disturb social connectivity

Closer of telecom franchises, during the lockdown, may disturb the social connectivity and information sharing related to coronavirus (COVID-19).
With such alarming numbers of people being affected due to the corona pandemic, the provincial governments of Sindh and Punjab have taken concrete steps and announced lockdown for 15-days, upto 6th of April, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
During the lockdown all mobile phone franchise, electronic, cloth markets and area shops expect selling essential daily life products and pharmacies will remain close.
Due to these preventive measures taken by the government, the public life has come to a halt limiting people within their homes, with internet and telecommunication being the only source left to commute with their loved ones in Pakistan and abroad.
Mobile phone connectivity and social networking source are also considered to be the most imperative tool of information, which helps to create awareness of the coronavirus amongst the masses through social media.
Facebook, an online social networking service, and WhatsApp, the famous cross messaging platform, in partnership with international health organisations like WHO, UNICEF and UNDP have also announced the launch of WhatsApp Coronavirus Information Hub to offer actionable guidance, general tips and meaningful resources for the users across the globe to be well aware about the disease and hence limit the widespread of rumours.
To take advantage of these resourceful platforms, it becomes imperative for the masses to have an active telecom service which might eventually be difficult as the authorities are ensuring closure of all shops including telecom franchises. However, it seems that the closure of telecom franchise can lead to making public life worse for the people who may find themselves disconnected from the world.
The mobile phone service retailers who may have been allowed by the authorities to operate may also find themselves stranded in this situation where bill payments, mobile balance top-up, money transfer, utility bill payments and other secondary services are only possible as a result of round the clock support and contact with the franchises of these cellular service providers.
These telecom franchises have also been instructed to observe closure of their businesses for two weeks, thus issuance of a SIM card or activation of cellular services may as well face limitations, since the public access to these franchises has been restricted as part of the preventive measures taken by the government in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Customers and industry have appreciated the government measures for COVID-19 and said that it would be great if government could implement some effective measures to provide relief to the general public by allowing opening of franchises. The telecom franchises operation would not only ensure uninterrupted connectivity to the people but will also help them to remain updated with the latest happenings on their mobile phones, as well as being connected with their loved ones across the globe, they added.