Sindh may shut down businesses operating with unvaccinated workers

• Sindh government issues warning to industries and businesses to get their workers vaccinated against coronavirus.
• Chief secretary says government in process of establishing vaccination centres in industrial zones.
• Directs deputy commissioners to ensure implementation of standard operating procedures.

KARACHI: Amid a continuous spike in COVID-19 cases, businesses and industries in Sindh have been warned by the provincial government against a shut down if their workers are not vaccinated against the virus.

According to a The News report, the development came during a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah at the Sindh Secretariat on Wednesday, in which the latest pandemic situation was reviewed.

The provincial authorities have further tightened COVID-19 restrictions, extending them for two more weeks and banned public movement after 8pm to curb the virus spread.

Officials of the health department briefed the participants that so far, 285 special centres have been set up across the province to vaccinate people against COVID-19.

The meeting was also informed that so far 1,106,384 people in the province have been vaccinated against the virus.

Read more: Sindh govt restricts all 'unnecessary movement' after 8pm

Deputy commissioners posted in different districts briefed the meeting and said they have completed the vaccination of revenue service personnel working under them.

They said that now the staffers of other government departments are being inoculated.

The chief secretary directed the officials to increase the number of vaccination centres in their respective jurisdictions.

He advised all industrialists to get their factory workers vaccinated and said the government is in the process of establishing vaccination centres in different industrial zones.

Read more: Schools in 12 Sindh districts to remain closed till June 6

He directed the DCs to ensure implementation of the standard operating procedures issued by the home department against the spread of the virus. He said that action should be taken against the people who violated these SOPs.

The chief secretary also asked the commissioners posted in the Karachi and Hyderabad divisions to keep a check on the prices of essential food items in their respective areas to safeguard the interests of the consumers.