Smart lockdown imposed in seven cities of Punjab
The lockdown will remain in force for a period of two weeks in seven cities of Punjab.
LAHORE (Dunya News) - Amid the ongoing third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, a major lockdown has been imposed in seven cities in Punjab starting from today (Monday). The lockdown will remain in force for a period of two weeks in the cities of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Gujrat, Dunya News reported.
The notification issued by the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department said that there has been a constant increase in positivity percentage in Covid-19 cases in the province which poses a serious threat to public health.
According to the notification, the major lockdown will restrict the movement of the people; there will be a complete ban on gatherings of all kinds for social, religious or other purposes at any place, public or private; marriage and banquet halls, community centres and marquees will remain closed; and also a complete ban on indoor and outdoor dining while only takeaway and home delivery will be allowed.
All markets and bazaars shall be closed by 6:00pm in these seven cities on weekdays while there will be a complete shutter down on Saturdays and Sundays.
However, hospitals, medical stores, bakeries, general stores, milk shops, meat and chicken shops, tandoors, fruit and vegetables shops and patrol pumps are exempted from these restrictions.
The statement also said that there will be a complete ban on all kind of sports, cultural and other activities and events throughout the province.
On the other hand, the National Assembly Secretariat was also closed for two days due to the threat of the spread of the coronavirus while meetings of public accounts committee and special committees were also canceled.
Earlier, it was decided to keep the Senate Secretariat closed till March 16 due to surge in COVID-19 cases. Meanwhile, the CDA has been instructed to disinfect all the offices.
