Sindh government has allowed business activities in Karachi to resume on Fridays after the protest of the trade community for extension of business hours and reduce the number of “safe days” from two to one.

Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab said the provincial government took the decision over the demand of the traders and the markets would remain open on Fridays. However, they would remain closed on Sundays in the city.

He added the traders would have to ensure implementation of standard operating procedures in the markets.

Since August, Karachi and Hyderabad markets were closed on Fridays and Sundays, and Fridays and Saturdays respectively to observe safe days due to the rising case of Covid’s Delta variant in Sindh.

In other news, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) extended the Covid special measures imposed in 24 districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Islambad till September 15, according to a letter issued by the body.

According to the document, the ban would observe on all types of indoor and outdoor gatherings, indoor gyms and intercity public transport, while the education sector would remain closed in the districts.

The decision was taken considering “significant pressure on critical care, hospital admissions and oxygen requirements,” read the document.

The districts affected by coronavirus included 15 districts of Punjab and eight districts of K-P.