The National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) on Saturday reviewed the imposition of smart lockdown in the coronavirus hotspot areas and compliance of standard operating procedures (SOPs) by the people across the country.
The NCOC meeting chaired by Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar was updated in this regard by the chief secretaries. Asad Umar suggested that the provincial governments should issue notify that private organizations and corporations should not take any punitive action against their employees living in the areas under smart lockdown for not attending offices. All the efforts and measures taken to contain the Covid-19 pandemic would show results after 15 days whereas the provincial governments should ensure implementation of smart lockdown with strict compliance of the SOPs by the people, he added.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary said the population of around 500,000 had been restricted under the smart lockdowns implemented in various localities across the province, with main focus on urban areas of Peshawar, Malakand, Swat, Haripur, Nowshera and Mardan.
There was no high risk of spread of the coronavirus in other seven districts, including Kohistan and Upper Chitral, he added.
The Punjab Chief Secretary informed the meeting that eight main cities were under the lockdown, with less than a million population restricted.
He said over 80 percent compliance of wearing masks at public places was witnessed, however, the administration was trying strict enforcement of all the SOPs. Some 12,000 transport owners were fined for violating the SOPs and health guidelines, he added.
The Sindh Chief Secretary told the NCOC that almost 24 districts with a population of 5 million were put the smart lockdown.
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Chief Secretary said a total of 59 smart lockdowns were imposed in the valley, where the public compliance of the SOPs had improved. The district administrations were providing free masks to the people if found without wearing the same.
The Gilgit Baltistan Chief Secretary informed the forum that the deputy commissioners had been authorized to impose lockdown in the areas with high number coronavirus positive cases. The general public was complying with the SOPs, he added.
The NCOC meeting also reviewed implementation of the National Coordination Committee’s decisions, availability of oxygen cylinders, and need assessment of critical medical equipment and their import keeping in view the disease projections.
Meanwhile, the NCOC said over 9305 violations of health guidelines were noted during last 24 hours across Pakistan. According to NCOC, in consequence of the violations more than 839 markets and shops, three industrial units were sealed and 1522 transporters were fined and sealed as per the violation.
Violations of health guidelines across Pakistan recorded as in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) 683 violations were reported and in response 73 markets and shops and one industry was closed and sealed while 285 transport vehicles were fined.
In Gilgit Baltistan, 267 violations of health guidelines were observed, 64 markets and shops were closed and sealed and 127 transport vehicles were fined as per violations.
In KP, 4684 violations were observed where in consequence 167 markets and shops were closed and 115 transport vehicles were fined as per the violation.
In Punjab, a total of 2287 violations were recorded whereas in consequence 368 markets and shops were closed, two industrial units were sealed and 987 transport vehicles were fined as per the violation.
In Sindh, 681 violations were noted whereas 70 markets and shops were closed and eight transport vehicles were fined as per the violation.
In Balochistan, 703 violations were observed where 97 markets and shops were closed as per the violation.
