People visit a cattle market set in Peshawar before Eid. AP
Paying little heed to the government’s advice of restraint, as the potentially devastating fourth wave of Covid-19 threatens Pakistan, people celebrated Eidul Azha with traditional fervour as activity-starved youth were seen moving in groups visiting cattle mandis.
The multi-billion rupees Eid market that shrunk to half in 2020 covered much of the lost ground this year. Spike in activity was also observed in Eid related shopping in clothing, footwear and accessories segments with women and children thronging malls and bazaars. Fearing a spike in Covid cases other provinces are watching closely but Sindh Government has imposed stiff restrictions from today as health infrastructure started creaking with patients load.
KARACHI: The provincial government of Sindh in southern Pakistan has launched a vaccination drive to inoculate prisoners aged 50 and above as part of a campaign that rights groups hope other provinces will follow. In Karachi Central Jail, where the drive was launched by Kazi Nazir Ahmed, inspector-general of prisons, on Wednesday, after almost a quarter of the jail population had tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) last June. The jail, with a capacity of 2,400 prisoners, currently houses 5,000 inmates. “COVID-19 is the biggest disaster that man is facing now. We are proud of the government of Sindh, which has taken effective and timely measures,” Ahmed told Arab News, adding that the prison department was the first in the country to begin vaccinating inmates and jail staff.