Sindh government to impose complete lockdown

Army called in to control the situation

Sindh government has decided to impose complete lockdown in the province and call in the Pakistan Army as number of people infected by coronavirus continues to rise. The army has been called under article 245 of the constitution in aid of civilian administration. The lockdown might take affect from Sunday. Sindh has 396 confirmed cases of coronavirus.

The provincial government is likely to make formal announcement on Sunday. The lockdown decision was made in the meeting of the provincial task force on coronavirus chaired by the chief minister Murad Ali Shah. “It’s therefore requested to kindly accord the approval for the deployment of armed forces to aid civil power in the province of Sindh,” reads a letter written by the Sindh home department to the federal interior secretary and the government of Pakistan.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is already urging the federal government to impose complete lockdown in the country to curb and contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Sindh government already imposed partial lockdown and restrictions. The government appealed to the people to remain in their houses for three days from Sunday to Tuesday. But it seems that people are not taking the warnings of the government seriously. The army has been called in to completely impose the restrictions on people’s movement.  

Despite its close proximity with China, Pakistan was free of this virus until February 26 when first corona case was surfaced.  A young man from Karachi was tested positive for the COVID-19. The man, in his twenties, had returned from Iran, which is also one of the worst-hit countries.

 The Sindh health department has confirmed 39 new cases — 36 in pilgrims who have returned from Taftan border and three in Karachi — taking the provincial tally to 396.

The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in Karachi has reached 105 with three cured and one death. Out of 105, 60 are locally transmitted cases while 100 patients are currently being treated in different health facilities.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has discussed several options in this connection with Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Karachi Corps Commander, Sindh Rangers DG and Sindh IGP to ensure full implementation of the government’s decision of keeping people at their homes, provincial government’s spokesperson Murtaza Wahab confirmed on Saturday.

 “Time is for some tough decisions. CM Sindh has discussed with Governor Sindh, Corps Commander Khi, and DG Rangers & IG Sindh to ensure full implementation of Govt’s decision of keeping people at their homes. #SindhGovt will ensure that grocery & medical shops remain open.”

                                                     Irshad Tirmzi