From closing retail outlets in different areas of Karachi to violating SOPs at shopping areas, supermarkets, and mega-events, the surge of coronavirus in the third wave complements the impression that there exists discrimination between social classes when it comes to implementation of rules.
As the countdown for the holy month of Ramazan begins, several markets and shopping malls witnessed how crowds are not following precautionary measures to how actively the management is playing their part in controlling the spread of pandemic virus.
Recently, Pakistani fashion designer Deepak Perwani drew a comparison on Sindh government’s policy on SOPs, as the outlets at Zamzama market were shut down forcefully but the retail chains like Imtiaz and others remained operative where dozens of people flouted precautionary guidelines.
Ridiculous zamzma has been shut down while imtiaz super market has over 2000 people shopping !!! #COVID19 @MuradAliShahPPP what kind of absurd rules are these ?
— Deepak perwani (@DPerwani) April 3, 2021
Moreover, the designer raised some other questions too.
Khaada market is open 26 th street is open only zamzma has been shut !!!? Who are we trying to show that sops are being followed #COVID19 @MuradAliShahPPP
— Deepak perwani (@DPerwani) April 3, 2021
Tagging Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Deepak highlighted that how a retail store will affect the coronavirus situation when there were hardly any customers walking-in.
Rules need to be in place for everyone how do individual retail stores on a road effect corona when you hardly have customers walking in @MuradAliShahPPP #COVID19
— Deepak perwani (@DPerwani) April 3, 2021
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In addition to it, renowned Islamic Scholar Maulana Tariq Jamil organized the launch event of MTJ at Mohatta Palace Museum in Karachi.
The venue was red-themed and star-studded performances made it a huge and successful event.
Few glimpse from Moulana Tariq Jameel’s “MTJ” launch at Karachi. pic.twitter.com/W6qnpeULrM
— Qaseem Saeed (@QaseemSaeed) April 3, 2021
Despite instruction on the invitation card regarding SOPs, the crowd was seen roaming around freely without fearing virus spread.
In some of the videos from the event that surfaced on the internet, Maulana himself was seen without a face mask even though he had contracted the pathogen.
National Anthem at the launch of clothing brand #MTJ (Maulana Tariq Jameel) in #Karachi right now. pic.twitter.com/vQ2D1HXP3E
— The Times of Karachi (@TOKCityOfLights) April 3, 2021
Imposing a ban on small retail outlets and allowing access to people in supermarkets and shopping arenas simply portray that the authorities have failed to implement SOPs in public places dedicated to the affluent class.