ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre on Covid-19 on Friday directed all provincial governments to reopen their airports to avoid chaos in the federal capital.

Since the provincial governments closed their airports in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, all flights bringing Pakistanis from abroad were landing at Islamabad international Airport (IIA).

During the last few weeks, a large number of Pakistanis returned from different parts of the world, including Europe, America and the Middle East.

The Foreign Office informed the capital administration prior to the arrival of the Pakistanis for arrangements to keep the passengers at quarantine centres as a precautionary measure against the spread of the virus.

Officials said as the number of passengers kept increasing, the number of quarantines increased to 14 with a maximum capacity to keep 600 people.

After closure of airports, Pakistanis returning from abroad were landing at IIA and being quarantined in the capital

The quarantine centres were set up at Haj Complex with a capacity of 80 beds, OGDCL rest house 60 beds, Pak China Friendship Centre 30 beds, Hotel Redison in Blue Area 33 beds, Hill View Hotel 105 beds and Islamabad Hotel, 80 beds.

A few days ago, the capital administration informed Foreign Office that it had turned a maximum number of suitable buildings into quarantine centres. No more suitable buildings were found for quarantining the Pakistanis returning from abroad.

The Foreign Office was alerted about the alarming situation which could lead to chaos with 150 to 200 people arriving in the capital every day.

It was requested to direct the provinces to reopen their airports so that the returning Pakistanis could be distributed among them and no one faced any kind of shortage when it comes to precautionary measures against the spread of coronavirus.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat told Dawn that the National Command and Operation Centre had issued an order to all the provinces to reopen their airports so Pakistanis coming back to the country could be distributed among them and no one faced any kind of situation which can hamper the measures taking against the spread of the virus.

The airports in the provinces will reopen by April 13, the DC said, adding there was no flight arriving in the capital on April 10 and 12. However, three flights are scheduled to land in the capital on April 11 with 200 passengers.

The issuance of the directive to the provinces is a great relief for the capital as there is no building left which could meet the requirement for quarantining anyone, he added.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2020