NCOC bans indoor, outdoor gatherings including wedding ceremonies from April 05

The NCOC cleared that this decision includes all social, cultural, political, sports and other events.

All kind of gatherings (indoor / outdoor) will be banned with immediate effect. This will include all social, cultural, political, sports and other events.

— NCOC (@OfficialNcoc) March 28, 2021

However, the provinces will be at liberty to implement restrictions in early time frame as per the situation on ground.

The decision came after the NCOC members met under the supervision of Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar and discussed ongoing situation of COVID-19 outbreak in country.

NCOC Special Session 28 March-Decisions

Complete ban on marriages (including indoor & Outdoor) from 5th April onwards. However, provinces will be at liberty to implement restrictions in early time frame as per the situation on ground.

— NCOC (@OfficialNcoc) March 28, 2021

Following the meeting, the provinces have been directed to strictly follow standard operating procedures (SOPs).

NCOC will provide updated hotspot maps to Provinces for enforcement of Expanded lockdowns with effect from 29th March 21

— NCOC (@OfficialNcoc) March 28, 2021

Special Assistant to Punjab Chief Minister on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan stated that the NCOC has recommended weddings to be banned in Punjab during the Holy month of Ramadhan. However, the final decision is yet to be made by the Punjab government in a meeting on March 29 (tomorrow).

The NCOC has suggested the province to restrict weddings from April 05 to Eid-ul-Fitar amid daily surge in covid cases.

Earlier today, Pakistan has reported highest single-day increase in Covid-19 cases for third consecutive days as the third wave of the pandemic continued to rage across the country.

According to NCOC, around 4,767 cases of coronavirus were reported while 57 people succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the total death toll to 14,215.

The total number of confirmed cases reached to 654,591 and as many as 595,929 patients have recovered from the disease with 3,043 critical cases.