The Islamabad areas of Sector F-11/1, Sector I-8/4 and Sector I-10/2 will be sealed from tonight after the confirmation of 51, 53 and 48 Covid-19 cases there, respectively.

Commercial areas and amusements parks in the capital will be "completely locked down" on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the Islamabad deputy commissioner said, adding that more areas were expected to be sealed amid the prevalence of the UK Covid variant.

Other restrictions announced for the city include:

  • Permissions issued for holding all functions, festivals and gatherings stand withdrawn
  • Any kind of indoor activity is not allowed. Outdoor functions are allowed only for two hours with less than 300 people.
  • Offices are not allowed to call more than 50 per cent of their staff.
  • Any violation in any premises of social distancing or mask-wearing will lead to it being sealed.

Opinion

Editorial

Chinese diplomacy
Updated 14 Mar, 2026

Chinese diplomacy

THERE are signs that China is taking a more active role in trying to resolve the issue of cross-border terrorism...
Fragile gains at risk
14 Mar, 2026

Fragile gains at risk

PAKISTAN is confronting an external shock stemming from the US-Israel war on Iran that few of the other affected...
Kidney disease
14 Mar, 2026

Kidney disease

ON World Kidney Day this past Thursday, the Pakistan Medical Association raised the alarm on Pakistan’s...
Delicate balance
Updated 13 Mar, 2026

Delicate balance

PAKISTAN has to maintain a delicate balance where the geopolitics of the US-Israeli aggression against Iran are...
Soaring costs
13 Mar, 2026

Soaring costs

FOR millions of households already grappling with Ramazan inflation, the sharp increase in petrol and diesel prices...
Perilous lines
13 Mar, 2026

Perilous lines

THE law minister’s veiled warning to the media to “exercise caution” and not cross “red lines” while...