Sindh Govt issues guidelines for easing lockdown restrictions

KARACHI: Government of Sindh, Home Department issued a notification with certain guidelines and measures that are to be followed as lockdown restrictions are eased in the province.

According to notification issued explaining specific guidelines as lockdown restrictions are eased “All restrictions/bans, timings and exceptions shall continue as per earlier Order issued by the Government of Sindh, closures/bans restriction on movement from 5:00 pm to 8:00 am on all days, restriction on movement by personal transport declared essential services and permitted industries/businesses with applicable restrictions, as in these orders, shall continue with the exceptions as are given in this order.”

A – SECTOR THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO REMAIN CLOSED

All Industries/Businesses not cleared for opening
Shopping malls/Plazas
Educational Insitutions
Offices not cleared for opening
Marquees, Marriage Halls, Banquet Halls, and Cinemas
Public Processions/gatrhering/congregations of all nature at any place
Organized events,sports,concerts,etc.
Restaurants, Hotels,Social Clubs(Except Home Delivery which is permitted and diver hotels situated on highways)
Entertainment areas,beaches,public parks.
Public Transport (Intra-city, Inter-city, Inter-provincial)

Responsible Behavior

While the gradual opening up of businesses and related activities in undertaken in line with the National guidelines as per decsions at NCC and for the sake of uniformity within country as also done by other provinces it becomes more of Public responsibility to comply with the distacing and preventive measures against Covid-19 spread. It requires care, concern, discipline and above all patience to conduct oneself in such situation of more opened up activities when the cases show a rise. This calls for a new life style and pattern of living as the definitive treatement or vaccine for the Corona virus causing COvid-10 is not yet available and may take many months to a year or more to become available. Thus, it calls for adjusting work, social and economic activities as per SOPs to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Thus it is of utmost important that the general public in general and the owners/ managers of shops / workplaces, businesses and manufacturing units particular ensure adherence of General SOPs issued vide order [By the Sindh Government] and oother specific SOPs are issued from time to time so that the disease spread is contained.

It is pertinent to declare that the Government of Sindh would continue to review the discase spread pattern periodically and incase of increased COVID-19 cases beyond the health facilities/capacity of health care systems the relexation in lockdown may be reversed or it may be further relaxed in the disease in contained.

With the above advisory it is reterated that any person/owner/manager engaged in any permissble activity/operation found violating any of the instructions contained in the detailed order and SOPs as reffered is this order shall be liable for action in accordance with law as per section 4 of Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act 2014. Any business unit/shop/store/manufacturing or non-manufacturing unit found/reported violating the instruction/Standard of Operation Procedures, shall be proceeded against in accordance with law and may have the permission given to them during Covid-19 emergency suspended immediately and such work places may be closed.

Secretaries of respective departments viz Industries, Labour, Food/Food regulatory authority, Health etc. Who are entrusted with regulation/control of respective activities/function related to above as well as respective divisional commissioners are empowered under Section 3(1) of said Act to issued further orders,directions,notices to put this order into effect in letter and spirit and to clarify futher for implementation purpose (but not allow what is not permitted or disallow what is permitted). Any such order/direction/notice is to be issued by fully taking onboard the respective Law enforcing agencies/ Police to ensure proper implementation mechanism.

A team of officers/inspectors of administration and or duly authorized representatives of concerned departments under intimation of the Commissioner/Deputy Commissioner concerned, industries and labour department duly authorized by Deputy Commissioners and Secretaries concerned may check the place any time for compliance of directions issued by Government.

Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Labour officer concerned as well as personnel of Law Enforcement Agencies not below the rank of Inspector Police or of equivalent rank for other Law Enforcement Agencies are empowered under Section 3(1) of the said Act to take any legal action on any act in contravention of this order or direction/notices issued there under. further legal action can be taken under relevant Labour,Industrial and other applicable laws.

B – SECTORS that are OPEN/BEING OPEN By FOLLOWNG SOPs

Construction Activities

Pipe Mills (PVC and Steel)
Electrical Cable and switchgear manufacturing
Steel/Aluminium manufacturing including re-rolling mills
Ceramic Manufacturing
Paint factories
Carpenter/Furniture shops
Real estate
Retail shops related to construction manufacturing

Community Markets /Retails outlets, Standalone/Neighborhood shops situated in residential localities (excluding shops situated in shopping Malls, Plazas) are subject to strict following of SOPs issued vide Order [By the Government of Sindh] on 10th May, 2020. According to these Sindh Government guidelines and SOPs strict action will be taken against violators.

A) The timings shall be from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Thursday.

B) The following shall however continue to remain closed

Barber Shops/Beauty Parlour/hair cutting Saloon/Spas
Game centre/Videogames/Dabba/Carrum/Pools Game Shops
Gyms/Cafe/Sit-in-eatery
Social Clubs and Parks.

Friday, Saturday and Sundays are declared as “Safe Days” with 100% Lockdown according to the notification explaining in detail the Sindh Government guidelines for easing lockdown.

The essential like persons requiring emergency medical care,personnel of law enforcement agencies, Medical and allied staff, technical staff attending electricity, gas, water, sewerage related works and Municipal staff on duty, Goods transport, Charity organization limited personnel engaged in ration distribution/relief work in coordination with District Administration and Law Enforcement agencies Postal/Courier Services, Milk Shop selling daily products, newspapers distribution, media persons, medical stores with or adjacent to hospital. Moreover Grocery/General stores, bakeries/chicken/meat/fish shops/fruits/vegetable shops can remain open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Hotspots of Covid-19/ High Risk Neighborhood area as declared by the health Department/District Administration through an order by the commissioner/Deputy Commissioner may continue with strict restrictions as may be determined including strict lock-down and non-opening of non-essential shops/manufacturing in such area till the spread is contained.

Follow INCPAK on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram for update.