Tag: shopping malls

  • Islamabad International Airport outsourcing plan finalised: 15-year agreement for third-party management

    Islamabad International Airport outsourcing plan finalised: 15-year agreement for third-party management

    The decision to outsource Islamabad International Airport was finalised on Tuesday. According to the details, the airport will be under third-party management for 15 years, with a non-refundable advance payment of $100 million in case of any third-party violations.

    Administrative, financial, design, and construction responsibilities will be handled by the third party. They will also have the authorisation to construct shopping malls and brand shops within the airport. The third party will retain control over service charges, exchange rates, and shop rents as per the agreement.

    According to ARY News, Customs, site security, and immigration services, on the other hand, will continue to be managed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), according to sources.

    Previously, the Aircraft Owners and Operators Association of Pakistan (PAOOA) expressed opposition to the government’s unilateral decision to outsource the country’s major airports without adhering to PPRA rules.

    The association criticised the government for awarding contracts to IFC and the World Bank (WB) for the outsourcing of three airports. The association’s statement questioned the secrecy surrounding the outsourcing process, raising doubts about its transparency.

  • Sindh extends market timings for Eid-ul-Adha after Punjab

    Sindh extends market timings for Eid-ul-Adha after Punjab

    The government of Sindh on Sunday decided to revoke the notice it had issued regarding time limits for markets due to Eid-ul-Adha, following the relaxation of restrictions in Punjab.

    The province’s home department reportedly sent out a notice saying that the limitation will resume on July 11.

    In order to conserve electricity as the country was experiencing frequent power outages, the Government of Sindh earlier in June ordered all marketplaces in the province to close at 9 pm.

    The limitation was supposed to last until July 16, but as Eid-ul-Adha is quickly approaching, the regional government has decided to temporarily relax the ban. The letter states that it was decided to suspend the closure orders for the benefit of locals.

    Islamabad and Punjab had also let marketplaces stay open until late the day before to help the business community and those who were buying for Eid.

  • COVID-19: Sindh reopens shopping malls on weekends

    COVID-19: Sindh reopens shopping malls on weekends

    The Sindh government has allowed shopping malls in Karachi to remain open on the weekends (Saturdays and Sundays). 

    According to the notification issued by the government, shopping malls will now be allowed to operate seven days a week under the government’s COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

    The notification added that if a shopping mall is situated in a virus hotspot within the city, then it will remain closed as only essential businesses are permitted to operate therein. 

    Meanwhile, as of January 21, the province has recorded 12 COVID-related deaths, elating the overall number to 3,855. Some 716 new cases were diagnosed taking the positivity rate to 11.2%. 

  • Supreme Court orders reopening of shopping malls across Pakistan

    Supreme Court orders reopening of shopping malls across Pakistan

    Despite coronavirus continuing to spread across the country, the Supreme Court (SC), which seems to be at odds with the government over the latter’s handling of the pandemic, has ordered the reopening of shopping malls across the country.

    According to the details, a five-member larger bench of the apex court was hearing a suo motu case regarding measures taken to curb the spread of COVID-19.

    The bench was headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed while Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed were also on the bench.

    During the hearing today, Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed remarked that if the shops are shut down then shopkeepers will ‘die of hunger rather than the coronavirus’.

    CJP Ahmed said that in Karachi, except for five big malls every market has resumed operations.

    Upon which, Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shallwani said that a few markets were sealed for not following the Standard Operating Procedures laid out by the government.

    “The sealed markets should be opened and instead of intimidating them (shop owners) make them understand (the situation and SOPs),” remarked the top judge.

    The CJP noted that the SOPs will be ‘better implemented’ at the big shopping malls.

    The apex court also ordered that on the weekends, all the small markets should remain open to public.