HYDERABAD: All big and small towns across the province witnessed a virtual lockdown on Wednesday following Sindh government’s directives to close all bazaars, shopping centres, electronics, mobile, furniture and cloth markets and restaurants over fears of spread of coronavirus.

In Hyderabad, policemen forced closure of all shops except those selling groceries, meat, milk, fish and chicken as well as medical stores in line with the government’s notification. Bus stands were also closed and all inter-city buses were seen parked at General Bus Stand. Traffic was witnessed on roads and few people attended government offices.

However, buyers thronged meat and vegetable market to purchase food items and grains over fears of a complete lockdown of the city.

NAWABSHAH: All out-patient departments at Peoples Medical University Hospital, main markets, hotels, restaurants and roadside eateries in the city were closed by the afternoon.

The city wore a deserted look in the evening as most people preferred to remain indoors.

People thronged grocery shops and superstores to buy food items and grains.

MITHI: Tharparkar DC Dr Shahzad Tahir Thaheem ordered officials to ensure closure of all shops in all big and small towns of the district to avert spread of coronavirus. He said that all arrangements had already been made to fight any emergency in the district.

MIRPURKHAS: Deputy commissioner Zahid Hussain Memon has urged authorities to impose ban on trains along with intercity transport to stop movement of passengers.

He said at a meeting at Darbar hall that all markets would remain closed for 15 days under precautionary measures against spread of coronavirus.

He advised people to cooperate with government and said that those who failed to get surgical masks should improvise a mask from a piece of cloth and use it. If any person came from abroad he should contact district administration and have his test for coronavirus be conducted.

Daily wage-earners would be deprived of their livelihood for 15 days in the wake of ban markets, shops and intercity transport.

Shopkeepers complained to media persons that the district administration had forcibly closed their shops. They demanded the government provide them relief in this regard.

SHIKARPUR: The district administration with the help of health department and municipal administration established quarantine centres for suspected coronavirus cases.

Sindh Minister for Energy Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh chaired a meeting at deputy commissioner’s office and said that a private hospital Haji Lutfullah Bhayo Memorial Hospital and 36 rooms of public school had been turned into an isolation centre for suspected coronavirus patients.

ADC-I Ali Raza Ansari informed the meeting that 148 people had arrived from Iran out of whom 54 had completed their quarantine period and 72 were under observation.

The minister emphasised the need for creating awareness about preventive measurers against the virus in rural areas and assured that medicines and instrument would be provided for coronavirus disease.

LARKANA: Larkana Commissioner Mohammad Saleem Raza Khuhro imposed complete ban on restaurants, shopping centers, general markets, hotels, social clubs, entertainment parks, swimming pools and tea shops in the division.

Though restaurants were closed for public but home delivery and takeaway of food items were allowed, said the order.

The officer said that that they had closed 52 hotels and eateries and key trade and shopping centers in Resham Gali, Shahi Bazaar, Bundar Road, Pakistan Chowk, Bakrani Road which were frequently visited by people.

Majority of people linked with small business opposed the decision of closure for 15 days and said that they could not afford to close their shops for such a long period as they had to run their families and meet other demands. A few people termed the decision right.

Meanwhile, price of masks and sanitisers have shot up and people complain about the difficulty they face to purchase both the items. How the daily wage-earners would make both ends meets was a big question, asked the shopkeepers.

Meanwhile, SSP Massoud Ahmed Bangsh cancelled leave of police officers in the district and directed them to join their duties within 24 hours in order to be available in case emergency due to coronavirus fears.

Additional Medical Superi­ntendent of Chandka Medical College Hospital Dr Insaf Magsi said the hospital had so far not received any suspected case of coronavirus at the isolation unit established near Aseefa Dental College.

SUKKUR: Sukkur Commissioner Shafiq Ahmed Mahaisar issued directives to close for 14 days restaurants, shopping centres and all kinds of markets including electronics, auto-parts, cloth, iron, furniture and restaurants set up in hotels, social clubs, public clubs, entertainment parks, swimming pools and tea hotels.

Only grocery shops, medicines stores, super markets, fruit and vegetable, meat and milk shops and general stores would remain open in the division.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2020