Vote for song
Merge 104.8 | 25 June 2020
After three months of not being able to practice the profession he loves that has sustained him for 12 years in Oman, Pakistani expat Atif — who prefers to go simply by his first name — is now able to feel the surge of his sewing machine and the fabric under his hands once again.
Speaking to Merge 104.8’s sister station Al Wisal today [Thursday, June 25], Atif — who lives in Samail in Al Dhakiliyah Governorate where he tailors traditional Omani men’s attire — said that these last three months of closures were challenging, but necessary.
“It was important to respect the laws and follow the regulations — so, I didn’t work at all for three months,” he said. “To manage my life and my spendings, my family members who live with me helped me by lending me some money.”
On Tuesday [June 23], Oman’s Supreme Committee for COVID-19 announced that men’s and women’s tailor shops in the Sultanate — along with 55 other commercial activities — would be allowed to re-open as of Wednesday [June 24] in adherence with all safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
And Atif was ready. Speaking to Al Wisal, he said that his work started yesterday with customers extremely happy to see his shop open once again. He said that he was inundated with calls from friends and clientele thanking him for re-opening and congratulating him.
Vowing to make his shop a safe space for all, Atif assures that he has taken all precautions to avoid crowding or gatherings of customers inside his workshop, and he makes sure to clean and sanitize the shop before customers arrive.
When asked about the loyalty of his clientele, Atif said that he has been in Oman for 12 years and has many friends and customers who were very understanding over the last three months and he did not have any issues at all.
Speaking in Urdu on-air with a message to his colleagues and brothers in the tailoring profession, Atif said: “To my fellow tailors…you keep on tailoring. Re-open your shops and say the name of Allah in all of the work you do and He will bless you and give you all His blessings.”
Now that his shop is allowed to re-open, Atif said he is very careful to still respect the law — wearing a face-mask at all times and following all precautionary measures against the spread of coronavirus.
“This way,” he said, “I not only respect the law, but also the customers too.”
(Also read: 85% of businesses in Oman now open, stricter fines for COVID-19 violations being considered.)
