NCOC decides to enforce strict lockdown across country

According to details, NCOC has planned to stiffen COVID-19 related restrictions to limit the spread of the virus.

People would be only allowed to travel in case of emergency however markets across Pakistan would be completely closed on the two days of the week i.e. Saturday and Sunday.

The NCOC has also announced strict restrictions in cities with a positive coronavirus rate of more than 8%, which will apply until April 11. A statement issued after the NCOC meeting on said that the meeting expressed deep concern over the severity of the third wave of Corona across the country.

The NCOC meeting took place under the chairmanship of Minister for Planning Asad Umar in which the ongoing perilous situation of the novel Coronavirus came under discussion.

“A strict restriction has been implemented at all indoor activities across the country. Whereas, only take-away will be allowed and outdoor dining will be allowed till 10 PM.”

The NCOC further added that all kinds of trading services and business will shut by 8 PM and a strict lockdown will be imposed with all possible standard operating procedures (SOPs) following the third COVID-19 strain.

Gatherings of more than 300 people will be allowed only under stringent SOPs implementation, added NCOC.

The statement said that there would be a complete ban on sports, festivals, cultural and other celebrations and all closed cultural, musical and religious gatherings.

The statement said that all government, private offices and courts will have a 50 per cent work from home policy.

According to a statement issued by the National Command and Operations Centre, intercity public transport will run with 50 per cent capacity, rail service will run with 70 per cent capacity while the presence of people in the courts will be reduced.

The statement added that all federal units would make it mandatory to wear masks, besides setting up testing points at tourist spots in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir.

The statement said that the decisions of the NCOC would be implemented immediately and would remain in force till April 11, however, the situation would be reviewed on April 7.

Educational institutions have been quoted as saying that decisions related to the education sector will be reviewed on March 24.

In the NCOC meeting this morning we decided to increase restrictions of activities contributing to sharp increase in covid positivity. The provincial & ICT administration were also directed to tighten implementation of sop's and crackdown on violations which are taking place.

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) March 22, 2021

Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Twitter said: “In the NCOC meeting this morning we decided to increase restrictions of activities contributing to a sharp increase in COVID-19 positivity.”

The local administrations across the country have been directed to tighten the implementation of SOP's and crack down on violations that are taking place, the minister said.