LAHORE: As the coronavirus threat is increasing, the Punjab government has gone one step further and directed closure of all markets, shopping malls and restaurants over the long weekend till Tuesday morning.

Monday is a national holiday on account of the Pakistan Day.

The decision has been taken in the Punjab government’s cabinet committee on coronavirus meeting chaired by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar here on Saturday. The chief minister said the government was not taking steps for ensuring lockdown but planning to ensure social distancing.

It is learnt that the Punjab government has plans to present for approval a Corona Emergency Ordinance before the cabinet meeting on Tuesday (March 24). The chief secretary will present provincial contingency plan before the cabinet, while the finance minister will present social protection contingency plan.

Punjab govt stops short of lockdown to gauge response of populace

Since other public places and educational institutions are already closed, the government has gone for more closures in view of increase in the number of cases in Punjab as well as across the country.

Officials say people are not considering self-restraint to effectively face these testing times. They say some cabinet committee members wanted that the government should ban pillion riding but the suggestion was not agreed to for the time being.

“Closing of markets, shopping malls and restaurants for two days is an exercise to see public response and the level of measures to be adopted, if the number of coronavirus patients increase in the days to come,” an official privy to the meeting told Dawn.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had already asked people in his province to observe the next three days as “volunteer isolation” so that everyone could keep themselves safe and secure in view of the coronavirus threat.

With regard to closure of public places over the long weekend, Punjab Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Momin Agha has invoked the already notified Section 144 and directed closure of all markets, shopping malls and restaurants from Saturday 9pm to Tuesday 9am – to ensure social distancing as per expert’s advice. However, takeaway, home delivery from restaurants shall be allowed.

This order, however, will not be applicable to pharmacies, dispensaries and clinics, grocery stores, karyana stores, bakeries, atta chakkis, tandoors, milk shops, fruit and vegetable shops, meat shops, petrol pumps and all kinds of mandis including grain, fruit and vegetable. The chief minister directed that all departments concerned must not unduly annoy or disturb any shopkeeper.

The chief minister, however, announced that the transport would not be closed anywhere in the province. He hoped that the masses would themselves avoid undertaking unnecessary travelling and spend their long weekend at home. He said it was essential to maintain social distancing to permanently prevent the masses from the dangers of coronavirus.

“The government had to take strict decision of closing down all public places to ensure forced social distancing, which was not happening on a voluntarily basis,” Mr Buzdar said.

The chief minister directed that industries department to ensure provision of essential edibles in the province.

Explaining the incidence of coronavirus positive cases, Mr Buzdar claimed the situation was under control owing to strict monitoring across the province.

He said law minister Basharat Raja and health department secretary would hold video link meeting with the doctors to quickly address their reservations.

Health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid informed the cabinet committee that there were more than 24,000 gowns available for the doctors and paramedical staff treating coronavirus patients on the frontline across the province. She said 760,000 gloves, 944,000 surgical masks, 920,000 N95 masks were also available in the province besides stock of 5,000 goggles, 44,000 show covers and 40,000 sanitizers for the medical staff.

Mr Buzdar later replying to questions during video link media briefing said the Chinese doctors would also come to provide their complete assistance for the coronavirus patients’ treatment. He said consultations were in progress with the private institutions to reduce coronavirus test fee.

He said 1,000-bed hospital would be set up in Lahore while five hospitals had completely been earmarked for coronavirus patients in the province.

CONTINGENCY PLAN: Punjab Chief Secretary Azam Suleman Khan on Saturday directed all the provincial departments to prepare their contingency plans to combat coronavirus threat and submit a report within two days.

The chief secretary was chairing a meeting at his camp office, while all administrative secretaries attended through the video-link in line with the government instructions.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2020