QUETTA: The Balochistan government has imposed a smart lockdown across the province for two weeks to slow down the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Balochistan government spokesman Liaquat Shahwani said the decision was taken as the ratio of Covid-19 cases had reached nine per cent in the province and unfortunately the people were not taking the third wave of the pandemic seriously.

He said all trading centres, shops, shopping malls and markets would remain closed for two days per week.

Mr Shahwani said the third wave was more dangerous than the first two and with the passage of time the cases of coronavirus were on the rise, while number of deaths had also increased in the province.

“In view of this situation, the provincial government has imposed the smart lockdown across the province from April 17 to May 1,” he said.

“All wards at Fatima Jinnah Chest Hospital have been filled with coronavirus patients,” he said.

He asked the scholars to play a role for prevention of coronavirus.

The spokesman said the government would take all possible steps to protect the lives of people from Covid-19.

He warned If the situation worsened and people did not follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), the government would impose a complete lockdown.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2021