Lockdown: Government asked to reply about steps for small businesses operation

Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday sought reply from provincial government about the measures for small businesses operation in lockdown due to Coronavirus.

A division bench of the SHC headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar ordered Sindh Government to furnish reply by May 14, 2020 after a petition was submitted for permission to small traders for business.

During the hearing, Additional Advocate General Sindh told the court that government allowed some industries to reopen by following SOPs and some businesses have been allowed to trade online.

Justice Mazhar questioned as how small shops would be able to trade online and observed that federal and provincial governments should think about small traders when they took various measures for big businesses.

"How would it work if people would need the services of electrician, stationary and others in lockdown, the court remarked.

The Additional Advocate General told court that barbar shops are closed when the petitioner told the court that whether people would get their hairs cut on WhatsApp.

Meanwhile, the SHC took up a petition challenging the Sindh government's notification calling for a 20 per cent cut in school fees.

The government attorney stated that the government has withdrawn the notification and brought an ordinance, making it mandatory for all education institutes to charge 80 per cent of the total monthly fees.

He said the ordinance has been sent over to the Sindh governor for approval, adding the instant petition has become infructuous since the notification in question has been taken back.

The bench questioned director general of private schools Mansoob Siddiqui under what law the notification was issued.

To which, he replied he put out the notification for a 20 per cent cut in school fees on the directives of the Sindh chief minister.

He said he lacked the powers previously, but has been given the authority now and that he will be careful in future.

The bench disposed of the petition in the wake of the statement of government attorney.