Punjab government has issued an extension notification regarding lockdown in Punjab due to the coronavirus. According to Primary and Secondary Health Punjab, the notification will be effective immediately and will remain in force till July 15. According to Secretary Primary and Secondary Health Care Captain (Retd) Muhammad Usman, educational institutions, wedding halls, restaurants, parks and cinema halls will remain closed. Social and religious gatherings, sports activities will not be allowed during lockdown. All business locations will remain open from Monday till Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Medical stores, puncture shops, flour mill, tandoor ovens, agricultural workshops will be allowed to remain open 24 hours a day. Call centers will be allowed to open with 50% staff while inter-district transport will be allowed to operate 24 hours a day. Grocery stores will be allowed to open all week, from 9am to 7pm. All churches will open for worship only on Sundays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Punjab Jawwad Rafique Malik has said that after the end of the smart lockdown, the deputy commissioners would decide whether to seal or open the affected localities, keeping in view the number of cases of coronavirus in their districts.
He was speaking during a meeting held at CS Office on Tuesday with Senior Provincial Minister Abdul Aleem Khan in chair. The meeting was aimed to review the new strategy after the end of smart lockdown, prices and supply of essential medicines, and security arrangements across the province in the backdrop of the terrorist attack in Karachi.
Commissioner Lahore Division Saif Anjum, CCPO Lahore Zulfiqar Hameed and officers concerned attended the meeting whereas IG Punjab, divisional commissioners, RPOs, deputy commissioners and DPOs participated through video link.
The Chief Secretary directed the administrative officers to notify at least four pharmacies in the districts to ensure the availability of medicines used in the treatment of Covid-19. In case of a high number of patients, more than four pharmacies could also be notified, he added.
