PM Imran announces phased lifting of lockdown from May 9

PM Imran Khan announces phased lifting of coronavirus lockdown from May 9.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan has on Thursday announced phased lifting of the coronavirus lockdown from May 9, Dunya News reported.

After chairing the National Coordination Committee (NCC) meeting, the premier briefed the nation over the COVID-19 situation.

“First coronavirus case was reported in Pakistan on February 26 and the country was put under lockdown like rest of the world as the pandemic spreads very quickly.

“It was feared that the lockdown would affect daily wagers and people were in trouble because of it. Thousands of fatalities were occurring in a single day worldwide.

“By the grace of Allah Almighty, Pakistan did not face pressure like other countries. Now we have to ease down the restrictions.

“Casualties are increasing which was anticipated. It was feared that hospitals might run short of beds. It can still not be predicted that when the intensity of the outbreak will increase.” 

Markets to open for five days a week

Giving detail of the decision taken at the NCC, Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Asad Umar said that the markets will open for five days a week.

He said that small markets and shops in mohallas and rural areas will be allowed to open from Fajar to 5 pm.

The minister said the entire business, except outlets of essential items like food and medicines will remain closed in two days of the week.

Earlier, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), in a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, had proposed easing of lockdown restrictions after May 9.

The chief ministers of the four provinces and representatives of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan attended the meeting. Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Thursday (today) to take a formal decision in this regard.

However, the NCOC rejected a proposal of Pakistan Railways to partially resume train services from May 10. Chief ministers of all four provinces rejected the recommendation of resuming the train operation.

The NCOC made multiple recommendations to ease lockdown restrictions in the country which were imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The recommendations include the opening of phase-II of the construction sector, reopening of retail outlets and operationalization of selective outpatient departments in Islamabad.

The participants also proposed that shops should remain open from 9 am to 5 pm, and then again from 8 pm to 10 pm. No changes were made in the SOPs for religious festivities in the second half of the holy month of Ramadan and the measures will remain the same as previously agreed between the government and ulema.

Educational institutions to remain closed till 15 July

Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mehmood said that the educational institutions will remain closed till 15 July.

In a media briefing, after National Coordination Committee meeting regarding COVID-19, in Islamabad on Thursday, he said that all the board examinations have been cancelled and students will be promoted to the next class and they can get admission in colleges and universities on the basis of their previous result. For example, a student can get admission in a university on the basis of his 11th class result.

Earlier, the federal minister said that the government is considering to start Radio Education program to expand the distance learning project to far flung areas of the country.

Mahmood said the federal government would strengthen the Tele education system by including feedback mechanism to facilitate the students, moreover online education for higher classes would be more improved with the passage of time.

Responding to a question, the minister said the National Coordination Committee would take the final decision regarding reopening of educational institutions after prime minister Imran Khan’s approval.

”I think it is not possible to open school now, pandemic would likely to hit its peak in May as the experts have predicted so,” he said.

Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf promised with the nation to clean the national politics from corruption, National Accountability Bereau(NAB) was an independent authority, he added.

Hamamad Azhar outlines plans to gradually reopen industries

Federal Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar has outlines plans to gradually reopen industries.

He said it has been unanimously decided to open allied industries of the construction sector, which include paint and pipe mills, tiles, electrical and industry and hardware stores across Pakistan.

Hamad Azhar said that the shops of essential commodities have already been opened and pipe mills, paint manufacturing, ceramics, tile shops will now open. In addition, electrical cable, steel and aluminum shops will open.

The minister said that the hardware stores will also open, while shops in markets and neighborhoods have also been allowed to open. “Shops will be closed 2 days a week,” he said.

Patients suffering from other diseases being ignored due to coronavirus: Dr Faisal

Prime Minister s Focal Person on COVID-19 Dr Faisal said that the patients suffering from other diseases were being ignored due to novel coronavirus pandemic.

In a media briefing, after National Coordination Committee meeting regarding COVID-19, in Islamabad on Thursday, he said that the prevention of coronavirus is in our hands.

The focal person urged the people adopt precautionary measures. “We have ventilators and other facilities otherwise the pandemic would get out of our hands.”

Dr Faisal said undoubtedly, tally of corona cases has gone up in the country, which has put some pressure on our health system, but it should be clear that our health system has the capacity to handle the situation and we have yet not reached to a saturated point.

He urged people to observe social distancing and SOPs recommended by the government for the containment of the pandemic.