In a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19 in the province, the government of Punjab on Wednesday announced fresh restrictions from May 8-16 during the Eid holidays.
As per a notification from the Punjab government’s Primary and Secondary Health Department, here is detailed information regarding which things will operate during the holidays.
1.Business
All businesses, markets, offices, and shops shall remain closed, however, pharmacies/ medical Stores and vaccination centers, petrol Pumps, tandoors, milk/ dairy shops, food takeaways and e-commerce (home delivery) utility services will remain open.
Bakeries, grocery stores, sweet shops, vegetable, fruit, chicken meat shops will operate from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
2. Restaurants
There shall be a complete ban on indoor and outdoor dining in the province. Only takeaway and delivery service will be allowed during the lockdown.
3. Chand Raat bazaars
There shall be complete ban on Chand Raat bazaars including mehndi, jewelry, ornaments and clothing stalls.
4. Weddings/functions
Indoor weddings have beem banned all across Punjab. All types of marriage halls, community centers, marquees and event halls shall remain closed.
In addition to this, outdoor weddings shall also remain banned in cities with a positivity ratio higher than 8 per cent. These include Attock, Bahawalpur, Bhakkar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Jhang, Kasur, Khanewal, Khushab, Lahore, Layyah, Mandi Bahauddin, Mianwali, Mutton, Muzaffargarh, Okara, Pakpattan, Rajanpur, Rawalpindi, Rahim Yar Khan, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Narowal and Sheikhupura,.
5. Tourism
Considering a lot of people travel to north and other areas of Pakistan during holidays, a complete ban has been placed on all tourist resorts, formal and informal picnic spots, public parks, shopping malls, restaurants and hotels in and around the tourist/picnic spots shall remain closed.
6. Parks
All parks throughout the province shall remain closed.
7. Mask Wearing
Wearing a face mask has been declared mandatory across the province. The authorities have been asked to ensure strict implementation of this.
8. Shrines
All shrines shall remain closed in cities with a positivity ratio higher than 8 per cent. These include Attock, Bahawalpur, Bhakkar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Jhang, Kasur, Khanewal, Khushab, Lahore, Layyah, Mandi Bahauddin, Mianwali, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Okara, Pakpattan, Rajanpur, Rawalpindi, Rahim Yar Khan, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Narowal and Sheikhupura.
9. Transport
There shall be a complete ban on inter-provincial and inter-city public transport except on private vehicles, taxis/cabs and rickshaws with 50 per cent occupancy. There shall also be a complete ban on inter-city public transport except on weekends (Saturday & Sunday) with 50 per cent occupancy.
10. Sports, festivals, cultural and other events
There shall be complete ban on sports, gyms, festivals, cultural, social and other events throughout the province.
11. Rail service
Railway service will operate on 70 per cent capacity.
