Sindh Chief Minister's Adviser on Information Senator Murtaza Wahab has clarified the extent to which the coronavirus restrictions in Sindh would be eased starting tomorrow (Saturday). After May 8, he said, shopping malls, plazas, and cinemas will remain closed, as would the offices of the industries that have not been allowed to resume operations before.
Bigger departmental stores have also been ordered to stay closed, he added, noting that delivery service from restaurants across Sindh would be allowed to remain in place till 10pm.
"The Sindh government maintains its view that we have to fight coronavirus, not the federal government," the senator stated, noting that the Centre's document pertaining to relaxing lockdown measures only mentioned the construction sector and its related industries. He expressed these views while talking to anchor Shahzeb Khanzada on his show on Thursday night.
After the government announcement, Sindh Tajir Ittehad Chairperson Jameel Paracha said businesses were ready to resume operations if shops were to stay open from 5am to 5pm.
"The big malls [in Sindh] should be opened in the last 10-12 days of Ramazan," he said.
Separately, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood had said universities would draft their future policies with autonomy and that the government did not need to intervene in their matters.
"They run on semester systems so there is no need for us to intervene," Mehmood added. "Universities have autonomy and it would be better if they exercise it."