Punjab govt imposes coronavirus lockdown for 14-days

The decision was taken during a meeting of the provincial cabinet

LAHORE (Dunya News) – Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Monday imposed particle lockdown for 14 days with immediate effect throughout the province  for the next 14 days in order to control the spread of coronavirus.

 

Addressing a press conference in Lahore on Monday, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar said that shopping malls, bazaars, markets, private and public sector institutions, public transport, parks, restaurants and tourist-spots will remain closed for two weeks throughout the province to ensure safety from coronavirus.

He said that the decisions was made in the cabinet committee for anti-coronavirus, adding that the decision has been made to shut down shopping malls, bazaars, markets, private and government institutions, public transport, parks, restaurants and tourist-spots from 24th March 9:00am to 6th April 9:00am. However, he clarified that it is not lockdown or some sort of curfew.

The Punjab government has also decided to impose a ban on pillion riding, he said, however, members of law enforcement agencies and families will be exempted from this ban. He told that medical stores, karyana stores, fruit and vegetable markets, bakeries, mutton, chicken and milk shops as well as pharmacies will remain open throughout the province.

Similarly, factories manufacturing and supplying eatables, medicines, medical equipment and necessary items will also remain open, he added.

The chief minister said that essential service providers including WASA, WAPDA and telecom companies will continue to work and Edhi and other welfare organizations are also permitted to continue their pro bono work.

To a question, CM Buzdar replied that a committee headed by finance minister will present its recommendations to ameliorate the economic difficulties of daily wage earners in the cabinet meeting to be held tomorrow (March 24th).

He clarified that it is not curfew or lockdown type situation but this step is taken to maintain social distancing. “Doctors, as well as paramedical staff, are frontline soldiers and the decision about their package will be made in the cabinet meeting,” he added.

Sardar Buzdar announced that line departments will perform their duties in case of any violation as section 144 is imposed in the province. He said out of a total of 246 coronavirus patients in Punjab, 171 are quarantined in DG Khan. He thanked the people for abiding by the government appeal of staying at homes for two days, adding that it is the best way to avoid coronavirus.

The CM also paid tributes to Pakistan Army, civil administration, medical staff and local bodies  employees and media for performing their duties in this hour of trial. To another question, he said that food items are available in abundance; there is no shortage and supply-chain of eatables will remain to continue in Punjab.

Provincial Ministers Raja Basharat, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, Mussarat Jamshed Cheema MPA and secretaries of Information and Health departments were also present.

 

CM Punjab, Corps Commander chairs meeting

Meanwhile, an important meeting was held at CM Office under the chair of Punjab CM and Corps Commander Lahore Lt Gen Majid Ehsan which was also attended by GOC 10 Division Maj Gen Muhammad Aniq-ur-Rehman Malik, GOC 11 Division Maj. Gen Muhammad Yousaf, DG Rangers Punjab Maj Gen Muhammad Aamir Majeed, Chief Secretary, ACS (Home), health secretaries and others.

The meeting held a detailed review of steps being taken to overcome coronavirus as well as the arrangements made for the treatment of patients. The participants agreed to employ every possible step for saving the lives of the people.

It was decided that collective steps will be made to ensure hundred per cent implementation on government steps. Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Majid Ehsan said that full cooperation will be extended to the Punjab government to deal with coronavirus as it is a collective issue which needs joint efforts.

CM Buzdar said that Punjab government has sought help from the army under Article 245 adding that armed forces have always extended full support in difficult times.

The military and the political leadership will deal with this challenge in a befitting manner and all the resources of the Punjab government are available to counter the coronavirus pandemic, he added.

 

Sindh, GB impose lockdown

Earlier, Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan government had imposed a lockdown throughout the provinces for the next 15 days.

Sindh has the largest number of coronavirus cases in the country, with 352 confirmed. Pakistan’s tally is currently 803 with five deaths.

Following the CM’s message, police officers in different areas of Karachi started patrolling the streets to announce the government’s decision and to urge citizens to stay home from today (Monday).

In a video message, the provincial chief minister said that he had met politicians from various political parties during which they discussed the coronavirus and agreed upon certain steps that needed to be taken.

On Sunday, addressing a press conference in Chitral, Gilgit-Baltistan Law Minister Aurangzeb Khan said that the province will be locked down from midnight (tonight) for an indefinite period.

He said that this will be called home lockdown and police and rangers will be patrolling day and night.

On Sunday, Pakistan shut down markets and public places in several major cities of the country amid the coronavirus outbreak. The number of coronavirus cases in the country also jumped to 803.

According to the provincial governments of Northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Punjab, and Balochistan, the public have been advised to remain at home and avoid social gatherings.

"In view of experts’ advice regarding social distancing being a primary preventive method and avoiding public contact, all markets, shopping malls, and restaurants shall remain closed with effect from Sunday morning till Tuesday morning," the KP government said in a statement.

The provincial government also declared an emergency and suspended all inter-district passenger public transport for seven days starting on Monday, the statement added.

On Saturday, Punjab s Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also announced a lockdown in the province from Saturday night till Tuesday morning.

The Sindh and Balochistan provinces already announced the same restrictions to stem the virus’ spread.

"Time for some tough decisions. CM [Chief Minister] Sindh has discussed with Governor Sindh, Corps Commander Khi [Karachi], DG Rangers & IG Sindh to ensure full implementation of Govt’s decision of keeping people at their homes. #SindhGovt will ensure that grocery & medical shops remain open As the number of patients of coronavirus has been constantly soaring," tweeted Murtaza Wahab, Sindh government spokesman.

The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan rose to 875 after the country reported new cases over last 24 hours.

According to the federal Health Ministry, so far 394 cases have been reported in Sindh, 246 in Punjab, 110 in Balochistan, 38 in KP, 71 in Gilgit Baltistan, and 15 in the capital Islamabad. Six people have lost their lives to the virus while five recovered from the disease.

Most of the new patients had recently returned from neighboring Iran, which has reported the highest number of cases after China and Italy.

The virus emerged in Wuhan, China last December, and has spread to at least 188 countries and regions, according to data compiled by the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

With more than 360,000 confirmed cases, the death toll is now over 15,000, while more than 100,000 have recovered.