President urges people to get jabs for safety
Staff Reporter
The enforcement of partial lockdown in the federal capital would start on Friday evening (tomorrow) to limit spread of coronavirus during Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
However, a week-long official lockdown would come into force from May 8, said Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Hamza Shafqaat on Thursday.
In a video message shared with journalists, he said all kind of public transportation would remain temporarily suspended.
Shopping malls, business centres, commercial activities, Parks, recreational spots, bus stands would be shut down, while the enforcement teams would remain in place to enforce the orders.
He appealed the residents to complete their Eid chores before tomorrow evening to avoid any inconvenience.
Meanwhile, in a notification issued here, the local administration has made some exemption.
According to order, groceries shops, bakeries and sweet shop were allowed to remain open on daily basis till 06:00 PM.
Tandoors, milk shops and takeaways would also remain open. Similarly, Ramzan/Sasta bazars would operate till Eid-ul-Fitar.
He clarified that all hotels / rest houses in Islamabad would remain closed for the same period.
President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday urged the people to get vaccinated against Covid-19 to ensure safety against virus.
“As I get my second dose today, I advise all, particularly elderly, to must get vaccinated and continue observing other precautionary measures,” the president said after receiving his second dose of vaccine at a Covid-19 vaccination centre in Tarlai, in the suburbs of Islamabad.
President Dr Arif Alvi gets second dose of Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre at Tarlai, Islamabad.
President Alvi said besides vaccine, adopting other precautions including wearing masks, frequent handwashing and maintaining social distance were important to contain the spread of virus.
To avoid rush in bazaars, he stressed not to keep pending the shopping for Eid for last days of Ramazan.
“If we show discipline, follow precautions and keep seeking Allah’s mercy, we will be bestowed with His blessings in tough times,” he said.
President Alvi visited the vaccine centre without any protocol and got vaccinated after fulfilling the due process including registration at the service counter.
The president expressed satisfaction over the arrangements at the centre where around 600 people were being vaccinated in a day – 300 each by afternoon and after Iftar.