Commercial activities, parks to remain close on weekends in Islamabad
Outside gatherings of 300 persons are allowed just for a two-hour length.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The local administration on Sunday decided to close all markets and shopping malls for the next three days following the rapid surge in coronavirus cases in the federal capital.
According to a notification issued on Sunday, commercial areas, amusements parks will be completely locked down on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
1/3 - Following sub sectors are being selaed from tonight
— Office of Deputy Commissioner Islamabad (@dcislamabad) March 14, 2021
Sector F-11/1 (51 cases)
Sector I-8/4 (53 cases
sector I-10/2 ( 48 cases)
Commercial areas , Amusements parks will be completely locked down on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
According to Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat, subsectors I-8/4, F-11/1 and I-10/2 will be sealed tonight, adding that more areas are expected to be locked down as new UK variant strain is prevalent in Islamabad.
He mentioned that each one No-Objection Certificates (NOC) that had been granted to organisers of gatherings now stand cancelled and no indoor gatherings are allowed.
3/3- Offices are not allowed to call more than 50 percent of their staff. Any violation in any premises of social distancing or mask wearing will be selaed forthwith. Everyone is requested to please cooperate. Stay safe everyone
— Office of Deputy Commissioner Islamabad (@dcislamabad) March 14, 2021
The deputy commissioner mentioned that outside gatherings of 300 persons are allowed just for a two-hour length.
He said, “Offices are not allowed to call more than 50 percent of their staff. Any violation in any premises of social distancing or mask wearing will be sealed forthwith.”
Hamza Shafqaat also urged the people to cooperate with the local administration.
Extending scope of lockdown
Earlier, the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) had expressed concern over the growing number of positive cases of Coronavirus in the country. NCOC also considered extending the scope of lockdown in different areas of Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
Expressing concern over the rising number of Coronavirus cases, the meeting said that the third wave of Covid-19 is taking a serious turn across the country.
According to the NCOC statement, the rate of coronavirus cases has increased from 5 to 6 per cent across the country. Instructions have been issued to strictly implement SOPs in all major cities.
Rising cases of Coronavirus in Punjab are a cause for concern. More cases emerging in some areas of Punjab, Islamabad, KPK and Azad Kashmir, statement added.
According to the NCOC, further restrictions on international travel to different countries were considered. The decision will be taken after consultation with all stakeholders. SOPs will be implemented across the country from today. Citizens are asked to set a good example of social behavior once again.
Educational institutions
On Wednesday, govt announced that it will close all educational institutions in several major cities of the country and the capital Islamabad for two weeks after surge in COVID-19 cases.
The country has also withdrawn its earlier decision to end coronavirus restrictions and allowing all commercial activities to operate normally as of March 15.
Announcing the decision in a news conference, Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood said the government decided to shut down all education institutions in seven districts of northeastern Punjab, one district of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Muzaffarabad, the capital city of Pakistani-administered Jammu and Kashmir -- also known as Azad Kashmir.
All educational institution in these 10 cities will remain closed for spring vacations from March 15 to March 28, he told reporters after chairing a high-level meeting of provincial education ministers and other officials.
However, education institutions in the southern Sindh and southwestern Balochistan provinces will remain open as virus spread is under control there, Mahmood said.
The authorities had also withdrawn their "earlier decision to lift all restrictions on gatherings in cinemas, indoor weddings, indoor dining, and public places," according to Faisal Sultan, special assistant to the prime minister on national health services.
On Feb. 24, the government announced the lifting of coronavirus restrictions and allowed all commercial activities across the country to operate normally.
Over 200 million people in the South Asian nation have witnessed an increase in daily cases over the last week, despite a significant drop in virus cases and deaths in January and February months.
