TAXILA: Despite the death of a woman and a number of positive Covid-19 cases, most of the people are not taking government instructions to remain indoors.

During a visit to different areas of the city by Dawn, a large number of citizens were seen visiting public places, playgrounds, markets and other places on Saturday.

Besides, the ban on pillion riding is also being violated while public transport including rickshaws plied on almost all intercity routes and shops remained opened even after 5pm.

Youngsters were also seen playing on different grounds and social distancing at public places was not maintained.

Administrations in nearby cities, especially Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Hassanabdal, Hazro and Attock, have implemented the lockdown to control the spread of the virus.

Traffic in Taxila city, especially at Taxila Chowk, Faisal Shaheed Road, Museum Road, HMC Road, Railway Road and Thatta Khalil plied as usual.

Though different NGOs and cantonment board authorities and municipal committee have stepped up their awareness drives, advising citizens to frequently wash their hands, cover their faces while sneezing and avoid large gatherings, majority of citizens here are living just as they did before the pandemic.

Most of the markets in residential localities were also open and rush of people was witnessed there. Besides, roadside stalls of garments, glasses, fruits and vegetables and other edibles were open and attracting people. Moreover, at the state-owned community centre hundreds of people were seen in queues outside the Nadra office for online registration for the Punjab chief minister’s relief package.

Zohaib Zubair, a resident of Bilal Colony, was travelling on a bike along with his two children and wife. When he was asked by Dawn why he did not stay at home, he said if he was destined to die of the coronavirus no one could change it.

Mohsin Ali, a teenage rickshaw driver, said he had to feed his ailing parents and two sisters so he was out on the roads.

When contacted, Chief Officer Municipal Committee Fazal-i-Akram said the citizens had been told not to visit the Nadra office at the community centre and instead submit their data through mobile phones but people mostly from rural areas defied the advice.

He said it was quite difficult to control such a large number of people and if the administration took steps to enforce social distancing it might create a law and order situation.

Subdivisional Police Officer Syed Tahir Abbas Kazmi said Taxila police had arrested six people for violation of Section 144.

Responding a question, he said different measures had been taken by the police in connection with the lockdown as per government directives.

Awareness and preventive measures have been taken through police mobile public address system, by the district administration and tehsil peace committee, he added.

When contacted, Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Faheem said so far the local administration had arrested eight people for violation of the coronavirus advisory.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2020