KARACHI: The Sindh government on Thursday imposed lockdown in several parts of Karachi following several such measures in many other districts of Sindh after the federal government identified 20 potential Covid-19 hotspots where restrictive measures were needed to contain the spread of coronavirus, officials said.

A notification issued by the Karachi commissioner said that the complete lockdown came into force at 7pm on June 18 which would remain in place till July 2, 2020, whereby public movement would be restricted and business activities would stay suspended.

“Only grocery and pharmacy stores are permitted to operate — Monday through Friday, from 6am to 7pm,” said the Karachi commissioner’s office.

According to the notification in Korangi district its areas under Korangi Town where the lockdown was imposed include UC-2 Makhdoom Bilawal, Qayyumabad-A and B Areas, Allahwala Town, Nasir Colony, P&T Colony and Darussalam.

In Malir Town of the same district UC-1 Moinabad Phase 3, SI, 35/3 Model Colony, Jaffar Bagh and Nishtar Square are identified for smart lockdown.

Only grocery and pharmacy stores are allowed to operate for limited time

In Landhi, UC-9 36-B Area near Street Rehmania Masjid, Awami Colony, Imambargah Wali Asr Area and Powerhouse Area will remain under the lockdown.

Similarly, in Shah Faisal Town of Korangi district UC-7 Millat Town, Al-Falah Society and Malir Halt and UC-9 CAA Colony, Cantt Bazaar and Old Iqbalabad will be under curbs for next two weeks.

In South district UC Karachi Cantonment’s areas of Bizerta Lines and Doli Khata would face the lockdown while Lea Market area of UC Kharadar-3, Burnes Road, M.A. Jinnah Road, main Saddar and Urdu Bazaar of UC Saddar-8, Khayaban-i-Badar and Khayaban-i-Muhafiz of UC Phase VI [DHA] and Agra Taj-2 and Bihar Colony of UC Lyari are closed.

In East district, according to Karachi commissioner office, UC-1 Mohammad Ali Society, UC-2 Bahadurabad and Block 14, UC-4 Essa Nagri, UC-6 Block 13 (A&C), UC-7 Gulshan-i-Jamal, UC-8 13-D/II, UC-9 Block 7, UC-10 Block 14, 15, 11, Gulistan-i-Jauhar Block 2, UC-12 Sachal Goth and Rabia Petal, UC-13 Safoora, UC-14 Rufi Lake Drive Inn and Gulistan-i-Jauhar Block 13 of Gulshan Town would face the fresh lockdown.

In the same district lockdown was imposed in UC-6 PECHS Block 2 Tariq Road and Block 6, UC-7 PECHS Block II and Block 6, UC-8 Balti Mohalla, UC-10 Martin Quarters and Fatima Jinnah Colony, UC-11 Jamaat Khana, Jahangir Road Quarters No. 2, Jahangir Road No. 1, Teen Hatti and Bijli Ground, UC-12 Soldier Bazaar Numaish Area of Jamshed Town.

In West district of the city, UC-5 (Songal): Gulshan-i-Maymar and Khuda Ki Basti Phase 2, UC-3 (Islam Nagar): Naval Colony, Sector 4, UC-5 (Saeedabad): Area 5G, 5J, A3, UC-4 (Metroville): Block 3, UC-6 (Frontier Colony): Sector 4 and 5 near Malakand Hospital, Ismaili Quarters, UC-6 (Ghaziabad): Christian Colony are among the areas which are identified for the lockdown.

In Malir district, Road No. 9 (Complete Commercial Market area) of UC-3 (Cattle Colony), Complete Commercial Markets of Phase-I and Phase-II of Gulshan-i-Hadeed-6:, Jinnah Square Commercial Market of UC-5 (Jaffar-i-Tayyar), D Area (Main Commercial Market Road from 50 Bedded Hospital to 52 Wing Pakistan Rangers), Old Area (Main Commercial Market Road), Jacob Line (Main Commercial Market Road), Majeed Colony Sector I and II (Main Commercial Markets and Muzaffarabad Rerhi Road (Main Commercial Markets from Hospital Chowrangi to Hussain Chowrangi) of UC-1 (Muzaffarabad) are also included among the areas of lockdown.

Main Commercial Markets from Dawood Chowrangi towards 89 Petrol Pump of UC-3 (Dawood Chowrangi) and Main Quaidabad, Gosht Gali, Murghi Khana Main Commercial Market, Majeed Panwala area near Mobile Market and all mobile markets of UC-4 (Quaidabad) in Malir district are also identified for the lockdown.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2020