PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Tuesday paid a surprise visit to various bazaars of the provincial capital to review the arrangements made by the local administration regarding closure of non-essential businesses.

The provincial government has announced partial lockdown in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in an attempt to contain the possible outbreak of coronavirus.

An official statement said that the chief minister visited Gulbahar, Nistherabad, Hashtnagri, Qissa Khawani, University Road and other localities without any protocol and security arrangements.

While expressing his satisfaction over the measures and arrangements of local administration to keep the public places closed, Mr Khan said that the government had decided to keep all such public places closed as a preventive measure, however, grocery stores, pharmacies and other shops dealing with necessary items would remain open round the clock.

He appealed to people to remain indoors, avoid visit to public places, maintain social distancing and strictly follow other precautionary measures. He said that the overall situation of the province with regard to the outbreak was good enough. He added that provincial government was making efforts to further improve the situation.

The chief minister sought cooperation of people to make the government’s efforts to fight the pandemic fruitful.

He expressed lauded the owners of shopping plazas, restaurants and markets for extending support to the government by keeping their places closed. He hoped that they would continue to support the government in the coming days.

Mr Khan lauded the role of civil administration, police, army, Rescue 1122 and health workers in their fight against coronavirus and said that better team work and coordinated efforts would yield fruitful results.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2020