Punjab government imposed partial lockdown for 14 days

Measures taken to stop the spread of coronavirus

Punjab government has imposed partial lockdown in the province from tomorrow March 24 to April 06 after the number of coronavirus patients reached to 246 including 177 in DG Khan and 52 in Lahore. But the Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has tried to dispel the impression that it is not a lockdown or curfew. He said that “I want to make it clear to you that this is neither a curfew nor a lockdown situation. We are bringing a little changing [in the situation]."

Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar announced strict measures to fight the coronavirus.  Punjab government announced these measures one day after the Sindh government imposed lockdown throughout the province.  

The decision to impose partial lockdown to take certain measures that will ensure social distancing and self-quarantine to thwart the emergence of new cases. The CM Punjab has said that “the Government of Punjab has decided to impose a ban on pillion riding. Families will be exempt from this." The chief minister also said that factories producing necessary products will not be subject to the lockdown's conditions. 

The chief minister said that grocery stores, fruit markets, bakeries and meat shops will not be subject to the lockdown's conditions. However, he clarified that the province was not undergoing a lockdown neither a curfew. 

The chief minister announced that all non-essential shops and services will be closed as the Punjab government takes precautionary measures to ensure the virus does not spread. Public transport across the province will remain suspended and only a limited amount of people will be allowed to travel in cars. The government will ensure uninterrupted supply chain of food items and pharma industry.

Punjab government expected to announce measures tomorrow to provide relief to the poor people and daily wage labourers. 

                                                  Rukhsana Manzoor deputy editor