RAWA LPINDI: The district administration sealed 23 shops in different areas of Rawalpindi city and cantonment on Saturday and imposed Rs39,000 cumulative fine on shopkeepers for violating the standard operating procedures (SOPs)to prevent spread of coronavirus.

Besides, Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Secretary Mehar Ghulam Abbas impounded 26 vehicles of public transport and imposed Rs42,000 fine on owners for violating SOPs.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that protecting people`s lives was the priority of the government. Traders should benefit from the relaxation in the lockdown and follow the SOPs in letter and spirit, he said, adding `no mask no service policy` should be implemented to avoid the spread of the disease.

He said they had to live with the coronavirus until a vaccine arrived so people should adopt safety measures.

He said Prime Minister`s Tiger Force was creating awareness among people in its door-to-door campaign.

`We cannot impose all SOPs with sticks and in this regard, awareness is the only option,` he said.

He said the district administrations of Rawalpindi Division had been asked to identify the hotspots for smart lockdown as the number of patients was increasing.