NDMA chairman promises more equipment to hospitals
Tariq Saeed
Peshawar
Amid high surge in the Corona cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where the positive cases have crossed 19000 figure and the death toll touching 750, the Provincial Government has imposed smart lock down in Peshawar and several other districts of the province, a step aimed at curtailing the spread of the pandemic in KP where the people are least concerned about adopting precautionary measures and social distancing. The lockdown came into force from the mid-night between Monday and Tuesday.
Smart lockdowns have been imposed in four areas of the provincial metropolis Peshawar that include Ashrafia Colony, Chinar Road, University Town, Danishabad and Sector E-Two Phase One Hayatabad where higher number of people were tested positive for the COVID-19. Entry and exit points of these areas will remain closed during Smart Lockdown. According to the notification issued from the Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Office late Monday evening, only essential food items, medicine, general stores, tandoors and emergency service shops will remain open in these areas.
Likewise, only five people will be allowed to offer congregational prayers in mosques in these areas. Instructions have been issued to the area magistrate and police regarding implementation of smart lockdown and violators will be prosecuted. In Swat a total of 11 union councils have gone into a smart lockdown after a notification was issued by the district commissioner amid rising coronavirus cases.
The development came after Swat’s district health officer wrote a letter to the DC stating that at least 489 people have tested positive in 11 union councils of Bahrain, Matta, Babuzai, Barikot and Kabal areas. People in these areas had not been following the precautionary SOPs issued by the government. The lockdown has been imposed to contain the further spread of the virus. Under the smart lockdown, the entry and exit points of the areas will be sealed and the movement of people will only be allowed in emergency cases.
In Abbottabad too, the district administration has imposed a smart lockdown in its district. Qalandarabad, Jhangi Seydan, Kehal, Narrian, Nathiagali and the PMA road beside Gosht Mandi have been sealed. The magistrate and police have been instructed to make sure the decision is implemented.
