Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed on Monday ordered the federal and provincial government for the opening of all shopping malls across the country, Aaj News reported.

While hearing suo moto notice over Coronavirus pandemic today in Islamabad, CJP said that markets should remain open even on Saturday and Sunday.

“What is the point of closing shopping malls when all markets are open? Kindly make everyone follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) instead of sealing the markets,” CJP added.

He also criticized government for keeping shops and markets closed on weekends.

The SC bench has ordered to open all the small shops across the country on Saturdays and Sundays ahead of Eid.

CJP Gulzar Ahmed gave remarks that poor men would die of poverty if not with the COVID-19. The top-judge ordered for de-sealing of all the shops that had been sealed amid the coronavirus SOPs implementation by the police and law enforcement agencies.

Just days ago, Assistant Commissioner (AC) Karachi and police sealed Zainab Market and Gul Plaza as traders and shopkeepers failed to follow SOPs set by the provincial government, in wake of the coronavirus outbreak.