PESHAWAR: Adviser to the chief minister on information Ajmal Khan Wazir on Saturday warned that the government would enforce lockdown yet again if the people did not follow standard operating procedure during Eid holidays.

“Eid is a test case for people. If they don’t take SOPs seriously on Eid, then the government will tighten restrictions again,” he told reporters at the Civil Secretariat here.

The adviser urged the people to cooperate with the government in the fight against coronavirus.

He expressed sorrow about the Karachi crash plane and said Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and the entire provincial government were deeply saddened by the tragedy.

Mr Wazir said Eid would be celebrated in the province with utmost simplicity due to the coronavirus outbreak and Karachi plane crash.He said no Eid gatherings would be held at the government level, while the people should avoid unnecessary gatherings and should stay at home.

“The people should be careful for themselves and loved ones. This disease [coronavirus] does not come home unless you go out and contract it,” he said.

Mr Wazir said the government’s Helpline 1700 for coronavirus had so far received more than 100,000 calls for medical assistance and expert advice.

He said the helpline had also provided guidance to the people involved in the field of handicrafts and registration of civil defence volunteers.

The adviser urged the people not to fire bullets in the air and prove themselves to be civilised ones.

He said celebratory firing on chand raat would be highly inappropriate in light of deaths by coronavirus and plane crash.

Mr Wazir warned that those firing in the air would be dealt with strictly in line with the chief minister’s orders.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2020