MUBASHAR NAQVI MUZAFFARABAD Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan on Monday announced a complete lockdown across the state starting midnight for the next three weeks to control the spread of corona virus. “During this time shopping malls, public transport, public places and tourist spots will remain closed. Educational institutions would continue to be shutdown”, PM told in a video message. The Prime Minister told that shops of daily routine including vegetables, milk, meat, fruits and medical tores will remain open during the lockdown, while markets, shopping malls and public places will remain close during the aforesaid period. Other than medical stores, all other opened shops would observe timing from 08:00am to 06:00pm. However, there are no time restrictions for the medical stores and pharmacies. He said that state government had decided to take certain measures that will ensure social distancing and self-quarantine to thwart the emergence of new cases. Raja Farooq Haider made it clear that this is neither a curfew nor a lockdown situation but a precautionary step to help stop the spread of deadly corona virus. The inter-provincial, inter-district and intra cities public transport which is already suspended would continue to be banned for the next three weeks. However, government will ensure uninterrupted supply chain of food items and pharma industry
