Islamabad: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday directed the federal government to reopen shopping malls across the country for seven days a week, a news source reported. A five-member bench issued the said verdict while hearing a suo moto case regarding the various executive measures taken to contain further COVID-19 spread.
The bench instructed the authorities concerned to allow markets to remain open on Saturday and Sunday, instead of the existing system that allows them to be operational for only four days a week. Earlier, the SC had issued these orders only to Commissioner Karachi for opening sealed markets in the city. Now the top court wants these directives to be implemented across the country.
Chief Justice (CJ) Gulzar Ahmed instructed Karachi’s commissioner to implement SOPs against the virus instead of sealing markets. He added that the authorities should open all markets — including Zainab Market — as mostly the disenfranchised segments of society frequented these areas.
Additionally, the court further summoned the Sindh Chief Secretary and instructed the provincial government to submit proposals regarding the SC’s directives regarding the reopening of malls in the province. A written order on reopening the malls across the country is also expected today.
