The Punjab government on Saturday announced to re-impose smart lockdown in 13 areas of Lahore after a rise in the positivity ratio of coronavirus in the last two weeks.
“There has been an increase in positivity percentage and prevalence of Covid-19 in the province of Punjab during the last two weeks which poses a serious and imminent threat to public health,” read a notification issued by the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department.
According to the notification, there will be “controlled entry and exit” in 13 areas of Lahore, identified as hotspots.
These include the towns of Allama Iqbal, Aziz Bhatti, Cantt, Samanabad, Gulberg and Shalimar besides IMI Society, Johar Town, Green City, Shami Road, Muslim Town, Wahdat Colony, Gulshan-e-Ravi and Model Town.
The lockdown will remain in effect till August 12.
In this period, markets, shopping malls, restaurants, offices (public and private) will remained closed.
There will be a complete ban on movement to and from areas by public and private transport. One person per vehicle may move in between exempted facilities.
There will be a ban on all social, religious or other gatherings at any public or private place.
Pharmacies, medical stores, medical facilities, vaccination centers, petrol pumps, oil depots, tandoors, bakeries, grocery shops, milk and dairy shops, sweet shops, vegetable and fruit shops, meat shops, e-commerce, postal and courier services, utility services (electricity, natural gas, internet, cellular) will be allowed to operate 24 hours, seven days a week.
Large department stores may have grocery and pharmacy sections open, while take away and home delivery from restaurants are allowed.
SINDH GOVT APPRECIATED: Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Saturday appreciated the Sindh government’s move to ease coronavirus restrictions but maintained they were not enough.
“The decisions taken yesterday, especially those pertaining to industries and transport, need to be reviewed. We put forth our point of view yesterday, as well as today, based on which a partial amendment has been announced, which is a welcome sign. But further amendments are needed,” he tweeted.
Asad was referring to the Sindh government’s announcement of a nine-day lockdown after COVID-19 cases surged in the province, which later saw amendments made to the initial order to facilitate people.
He wrote that Pakistan’s strategy of smart lockdowns protected both people’s health and employment and was “praised across the world”.
“Such decisions were made after minutely reviewing ground realities,” he said.
