KARACHI: Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah on Friday issued orders to shut down wedding halls by 10pm and markets by 7pm in Sindh. The rule will be effective from November 1.
In a meeting held earlier today, the chief minister instructed the concerned departments to ensure that wedding halls are closed by 10pm starting November 1.
Regarding the food served at wedding functions, two meals – one gravy and one rice dish – and one dessert would be allowed.
In a meeting held later during the day, Commissioner Karachi Aijaz Ahmed Khan said that the rule will be applied in over 600 wedding halls, clubs, and hotels in the city. "This will provide relief to both guests and hosts," he said.
The meeting was attended by all deputy commissioners.
Traders reject CM's decision
Traders rejected the decision saying that people visit markets after office hours. They added that the government should first fix the roads and then worry about the markets.
"I can tell you very clearly, and there can be no two opinions about this: 99 percent of retailers agree that markets cannot close at 7 PM," Atiq Mir, president of the Karachi Tajir Ittehad.
"However, it is also true that as the weather changes in winter, shopkeepers themselves tend to close markets early around 8 PM or 830 PM," he added.
Retailers in the markets reiterated Mir's concerns.
"In Karachi, shops mostly open at 11 AM or 12 PM. I don't think anybody will be able to open or close shops earlier than that," said one shopkeeper, rejecting the notion altogether.
"It would be impossible for traders to close at 7 PM because all our business happens in the evening," said another shopkeeper.
"Our work starts after 4 PM, and at 9 PM there are still a lot of customers. What will happen to our businesses if they close it at 7 PM?" asked one cloth-trader.
Mixed reaction
Reaction on the provincial government's decision to shut down wedding halls at 10pm was mixed.
"It is a perfectly fine decision and should be enforced," said one citizen.
"This is a very good step of closing shadi halls at 10pm. But the government should also think about the fact that Karachiites wake up at 10 AM and end their night at 3 or 4 AM," said another, questioning the practicality of the decision and whether it can be effectively enforced or not.
A customer at the busy Zainab Market, whoever, rejected the decision to shut down markets at 7 PM.
"This is a poor decision. People get done with their office work at 5 PM, and then they reach markets around 7 PM. What would we do if markets close at 7 PM?" he asked.
However, he appreciated the government's measure of restricting the number of dishes served at weddings.
"One-dish is a very good step. Lots of people cannot afford anything more than a single dish, and it will prove good for them," he said.