KHAR: The authorities here have banned the entry of non-local people into the district as a precaution to check the spread of coronavirus in the region.

Sources in the district administration told this scribe that the decision was made during a meeting of the administration officials with deputy commissioner Usman Mehsud in the chair.

They said the participants reviewed the measures being adopted by the administration to halt spread of coronavirus.

The sources said non-local residents would not be allowed to enter Bajaur district from Wednesday till further orders. It was decided to deploy more police personnel at Toor Ghondi and Dar Banoo localities, the two main entry points of the district connecting the region with rest of the country.

They said that the administration had also sealed a number of untraditional routes, connecting Bajaur with neighbouring Lower Dir and Mohmand districts.

Also, deputy commissioner Usman Mehsud has directed the traders to strictly follow the administration’s instruction of closing down their shops till March 28 across the district.

He was speaking to a group of traders who called him at his office. He asked the delegation to take the virus issue seriously and follow the administration’s instructions.

Meanwhile, all the bazaars and trade centres in Bajaur tribal district remained closed.

Officials of the district administration and local residents said almost all bazaars and trade centres of Khar, Inayat Kallay, Pashat, Nawagai, Laghari and Raggan, were closed.

Several teams of senior officials, including deputy commissioner, additional commissioner and assistant commissioners of both Khar and Nawagai subdivisions, visited different bazaars to ensure closure of shops so as to avoid gatherings and check spread of coronavirus.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2020