Shopping dominates Covid-19 fear

The increasing numbers of the Coronavirus cases in the provincial capital has not deterred people from rushing to markets for Eid-ul-Fitr shopping in violation of guidelines given by the government.
As the lockdown was eased on May 9, the Eid shopping frenzy grew to such an extent that the people are not showing any fear of getting infected by the virus and completely ignoring the precautionary measures. Masses thronged bazaars, shops, and markets with massive traffic jams on the roads. Those walking shoulder to shoulder in the bazaars did not consider it appropriate to wear gloves or use of masks; they did not bother to follow the standard operational procedures (SOPs) set by the government, which was a condition before lifting the lockdown. Despite the deadly risk posed by the Coronavirus, shoppers in huge a number were seen in the major markets of the city including Anarkali, Shah Alam Market, The Mall, Islampura, Ichhra, Mughalpura, Shahdarah, and major shopping malls.
A lady with her two children shopping at Islampura Bazaar told this scribe that they have come out to buy new clothes for their children. "During the lockdown, it was not possible and now that Eid is only a few days away, we are in a rush to complete the shopping," she added.
"For over two months, my children were homebound," said a mother of four at Shah Alam Market, a bustling wholesale market of Lahore. "This festival is for the kids, and if they cannot celebrate it with new garments there is no point in us working so hard throughout the year."
Manzoor Ahmed had come with his children to Ichhra to buy new clothes, and the rush or the fear of the virus did not deter him from doing the shopping. "The lockdown had delayed the shopping and things have piled up. Stores will be closed again during the Eid, so I must get this shopping done," he said. On the possibility of getting infected, he said they cannot remain locked up at home forever, life has to go on; "Allah will protect us".
While most up-market stores and malls in the city have enforced hygiene and social distancing rules, such measures are virtually impossible to implement in the bazaars used by most Pakistanis.
Musbasher Azeem, a shop owner at Shah Alam market, said he had never seen such a rush in his life; this is a wholesale market, but many women with children are seen here. "It is also almost impossible to follow the SOPs, given by the government," he added. He was of the view that markets and shopping centers are seen packed just because of the limited time given by the government for shopping; the rush could have been avoided if the long business hours were permitted from the beginning.
Another shop owner at Ichhra, dealing in garments, Mahmood, said this virus is very dangerous but the people do not take quarantine very seriously. "Ahead of the Eid, the people have gone crazy with shopping and the spread of the virus is inevitable. Thus, I have decided to shut the shop; I do not want to earn money at the cost of my health," he added. But, many shop owners do not support the views of Mahmood. At Islampura bazaar, Aleem, who owns a shoe shop, was delighted to see a large number of customers in his shop.