LAHORE: The Punjab government on Thursday imposed a ‘smart lockdown’ on 12 more localities of the provincial capital on reports of surge in number of new coronavirus infections.

“There has been a constant increase in positivity percentage and prevalence of Covid-19 in the Punjab province during the last two weeks which poses an imminent threat to public health,” reads a notification issued by the Punjab government.

Most of the areas where the ‘smart lockdown’ was suggested were in Cantonment, Defence Housing Authority and Samanabad.

According to the notification, the lockdown was imposed in Phase 4, Phase 2, of DHA, Ghazi Road and Walton Road of Cantt, Gulshan Block of Iqbal Town, Chauburji Park area, Bund Road, Wahdat Road, Islampura and Sodiwal.

The police and the district authorities have been directed for controlled exit and entry points in order to restrict mass movement.

The standard operating procedures have also been issued for the commercial activities in the above-mentioned areas to observe timings.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2021