STAFF REPORTER LAHORE Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Monday announced a provincewide closure of non-essential services and shops, effective March 24, after the country’s coronavirus infected tally crossed 800. “During this time shopping malls, public transport, public places and tourist pots will remain closed. In the larger interest of the public, we have also banned pillion riding, but families will be exempted.” The chief minister said that factories producing necessary products will not be subject to the lockdown’s conditions. The chief minister said that grocery stores, fruit markets, bakeries and meat shops will not be subject to the lockdown’s conditions. However, he clarified that the province was not undergoing a lockdown neither a curfew. “I want to make it clear to you that this is neither a curfew nor a lockdown situation,” he said. “We are bringing alittle changing [inthe situation],” he added.The chief ministerannouncedthatall nonessential shopsand serviceswill be closed asthe Punjab government takes precautionary measures to ensure the virus does not spread. The chief minister announcedthattheprovincialgovernment had decided to take certainmeasuresthatwillensure social distancing and self-quarantine to thwart the emergence of new cases. Usman Buzdar appealedPunjab residentstocooperatewiththe provincial government. For the next 14 days, Buzdar said, security forces will ensure that the public abides by government’s restrictions. Wasa, Wapda and Edhi will be allowed to operate. Public transport across the provincewill remain suspended and only a limited amount of people will be allowedtotravel incars.Thegovernmentwillensure uninterrupted supply chain of fooditemsandpharmaindustry. “There are 246 patients in Punjab that includes 177 patients in DG Khan and 52 patients in Lahore. We are trying our bestto containthe spread of the virus. Please stay indoors and ensure safety of our loved ones,” tweeted CM Buzdar’s spokesperson Musarrat Cheema. The orders will remain in place untilApril 6.
