LAHORE: Following the Supreme Court’s decision, Punjab on Tuesday allowed shopping malls and plazas to stay open from 9am till 5pm evening across the province but disallowed food courts, stalls, restaurants and play rides within the malls and plazas to start operating.

The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee for Corona Control on the direction of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar a meeting held at CM Office. The restaurants will open after the Eid and the decision with regard to their days and timings will be made later. Shops, businesses and markets will also be opened from 9am till 5pm.

The committee also decided that police personnel will get special allowance during coronavirus while those losing life due to virus will get martyrdom package. It was principally decided to declare mandatory for visitors to cover face and nose at crowded places.

A 5-member committee has also been constituted to ascertain doctors and health professionals for performing corona duties. On the verification of the committee, headed by the VC of every medical university, additional salary will be given to the health professionals for performing corona duties. It was also directed to ensure payment of allowance before Eid on receiving verified and authentic lists of doctors and health professionals engaged in combating coronavirus.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2020