Sindh Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said all the shopkeepers who were not complying with the agreed standard operating procedures (SOPs) had been warned that if they continue to do so, their shops would be closed.
The minister said it was very unfortunate that the business leaders were not fulfilling the promises they made during their meeting with Sindh chief minister. He said if the Sindh government by taking care of the business community had allowed them to open their businesses, then they also had an obligation to keep their promises.
Nasir Shah also appealed to the people to exercise caution during their visits to the markets, adding that there was a danger of huge losses if they did not care.
He said the Covid-19 was not over yet, instead it had been estimated that the number of infected people has been increasing since the softening of Lockdown. "It's a contagious disease that spreads rapidly from one person to another and if we are not careful, there will be a lot of problems," he said.
Syed Nasir Hussain Shah further said if the situation remained such that neither the shopkeepers nor the people were careful, then it would be difficult for the government to continue with partial or the soft lockdown.
He said the general public and businessmen should not force the government to re-impose the strict lockdown with their reckless behavior.
Information minister said Sindh government wanted the businesses to continue and people to get maximum facilities, but in this regard the government needed full cooperation of business community and general public.
He said after receiving the financial relief from the International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank and G20, it was the duty of the federal government to create facilities for the general public.
Nasir Shah said at present there was a serious problem of food security all over the world, while the exports were also declining and business community was struggling, adding that, the federal government should consider and see that in such a situation what possible relief could be provided to the people. He said that the federal government would have to take positive and practical steps for food security.
He said although the federal government announced the agricultural package but did not implement it, neither effective steps had been taken to eliminate locusts despite repeated requests. He said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had also urged the federal government to provide relief to all provinces.
He said if the federal government paid serious attention, they could control the rapid spread of Covid-19 in a much better way. He said that small businessmen and shopkeepers would have to be given financial relief.
Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said the federal government not only approve the Sindh government's Covid-19 Relief Ordinance, but also implement it across the country. He said the Sindh government through its Relief Ordinance wanted to provide relief to deserved people in school fees as well as in utility bills.
The provincial minister said this was the time when we should support each other instead of criticizing each other. He said if we work together, it would be possible to get rid of Covid-19 pandemic soon, otherwise everyone would suffer. "Now it's our choice to either get rid of the pandemic together, or to deal with the damage that can't be remedied soon," minister said.
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