Mardan - Despite tall claims of two-day complete lockdown of the district administration partial lockdown was observed in Mardan and business activities remained continued on Friday and Saturday behind semi-shutter closure.
The district administration is accused of discriminating with small traders. The small traders have appealed to the KP Chief Secretary to take notice of discriminatory attitude of the management.
The district administration under COVID-19 SOPs in Mardan had announced to close business activities on Friday and Saturday. However, in urban areas of Mardan like Shaheedano Bazaar, Khawaja Ganj, Sarfraz Ganj, Chatu Chowk, Pakistan Chowk, New Aada, Par Hoti, Bugat Ganj, Shamsi Road, Akbar Road, Sehra Bazar, Baghdad, College Chowk and many other big business centres shopping malls were open during two-day lockdown while the small traders were forced to close their shops.
The small shopkeepers of Mardan have appealed to the Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to take notice of this attitude of the district administration.
Meanwhile, smart lockdown in many areas of Mardan is only limited to paperwork. People freely enter and leave affected areas as there is no proper security arrangement in the areas under smart lockdown resulting in the spread of corona epidemic in the district.
It may be noted that Deputy Commissioner Mardan Habibullah Arif had imposed smart lockdown in several areas of 16 union councils for 14 days from April 19 due to increase in number of patients infected with the third wave of coronavirus.
The areas where smart lockdown was imposed include Union Council Par Hoti areas Iqbal Colony and Gulshan Colony, Union Council Hoti areas Aladad Khel and Landaki, UC Mardan rural area Narai Baja, UC Khazana Dheru areas Sheikh Yousaf and Chamtar, UC Baghdada areas Kuz Kandi and Haji Korona, UC Manga areas Sher Dil Khan Kalay, Muslimabad, Karwan Road, and Inam Street, UC Garhi Kapura areas Mohallah Aryatan, Bakal Khel and Balar Khel, UC Mayar area Ghanichi Mohallah, Kata Khat, Zahidabad, Pat Baba area, Mohallah Sharifabad, Lundkhwar area, Landy Shah, Baizo Kharki areas Ikrampur and Torzai, palazay, Dheri Khas and Likpani.
The people of Mardan have also appealed to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan to take notice in the situation.