Pakistan opts for partial lifting of lockdown from May 9

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Taking the cue from many countries in the region and in other parts of the world, having eased restrictions recently, Pakistan has also announced partial lifting of lockdown from May 9. 

“We have decided to partially open the lockdown on Saturday (May 9) just to facilitate the daily wagers and small businesses. We have to open the lockdown with great prudence. The success of this phase is linked with public cooperation and discipline,” Prime Minister Imran Khan declared said in his televised briefing, following the meeting of National Coordination Committee (NCC) on COVID-19, presided over by him, on May 7.

The meeting was attended by ministers for foreign affairs, economic affairs, information and broadcasting, federal education, aviation, industries and railway, advisors to the PM on finance and commerce, special assistants to the PM on health, information, overseas Pakistanis and social safety, and the National Disaster Management Authority chairman while the provincial chief ministers also participated in it using video link. 

Among the major decisions taken in the meeting included reopening of small markets in localities and rural areas, allowing businesses to open after Sehri till 17:00 hours, opening of selective OPDs (outdoor patient departments) at hospitals and closure of educational institutions until July 15. 

The partial lifting of countrywide lockdown from May 9 is meant to allow economic activity with strict adherence to safety measures by the people, who have been specifically advised to take all precautions at their workplaces and elsewhere to ensure their own protection and avert any sudden spike in the coronavirus cases.