THE Government, on Wednesday, started implementing its warnings that it has been issuing to the general public for weeks due
to the apparent resurgence of Coronavirus. The authorities lifted Corona-related restrictions despite opposition and criticism from health experts in the hope that voluntary adoption of precautionary measures would help check the virus but large-scale violations by the general public, businesses and institutions have forced the Government to re-impose some of the restrictions.
The steps announced by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Covid-19 had become inevitable in view of a sharp increase in infections and deaths. As 80 percent virus cases were being reported in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Hyderabad, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Peshawar and Quetta, a schedule of commercial and social activities in these eleven vulnerable cities has been announced under which markets, shopping malls, marriage halls and restaurants will be closed at 10pm and amusement/public parks at 6pm daily with immediate effect. Wearing of mask has been made mandatory at public places including bazaars, shopping malls, public transport and government/private offices and a fine of Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 35,000 and punishment of six-month imprisonment will be slapped on the violators but it will be implemented understandably after Eid Milad-un-Nabi. The possibility of broad-based smart-lockdowns in hotspots is also under consideration of the Government and this could be resorted to depending upon the emerging situation. The measures come a day after Pakistan’s active cases surpassed the 11,000 mark and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan announced that the second wave of the deadly virus had started in the country. Pakistan’s achievements in the campaign against Coronavirus were acknowledged by the international community, referring to the country as a success story but there are clear indications that we are on a path to deny this status to Pakistan. The measures announced by the Government are timely and it is hoped that each and every citizen would cooperate in preventing further spread of the virus. There is a need for special care of school-going children and elderly people offering prayers in mosques because of their obvious vulnerability.
