PESHAWAR: The personnel of law enforcement agencies and army helped the district administration on Monday to ensure enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in bazaars to contain spread of coronavirus.

The district administration officials, personnel of army and police visited various bazaars in Hayatabad, Peshawar city and other localities of the provincial metropolis to check implementation of SOPs to stop spread of the virus.

The officials also continued to check price lists in bazaars and warned shopkeepers against violation of coronavirus SOPs.

In Khyber tribal district, the administration has sought help of local ulema, tribal elders and transporters to enforce SOPs and ensure closure of all business centres after 6pm.

Admins seek help of ulema to implement precautionary measures

The additional assistant commissioner, Ashrafuddin, held a series of meetings with religious scholars, tribal elders, members of civil society, shopkeepers and transporters on Monday to muster their support for successful and strict implementation of the preventive measures against coronavirus in bazaars, mosques and bus and taxi stands.

The administration also imposed ban on all types of sports events, especially night cricket and football matches, with immediate effect to contain the rapid spread of coronavirus.

A notification said that coronavirus positivity rate in Khyber was 6.84 per cent while 168 persons tested positive for the infectious ailment during the current wave of the pandemic. It said that so far 1,300 senior citizens were vaccinated in Khyber.

The authorities have made wearing of face mask mandatory for all people entering Pakistan via Torkham border. Officials at the border crossing said that nobody would be allowed to enter Pakistan without wearing a face mask.

In Lower Dir, the administration asked ulema and prayer leaders to extend their cooperation to the government in implementing SOPs regarding Covid-19.

A meeting in this regard was held at the district assembly hall with Deputy Commissioner Aun Haidar Gondal in the chair.

DPO Liaquat Ali Malik, SP Mushtaq Ahmad, Additional Deputy Commissioner Ashfaq Ahmed, District Health Officer Dr Irshad Roghani, ulema and prayer leaders from different areas attended the meeting.

In Swabi, army has been deployed in the district headquarters to implement SOPs and ensure imposition of lockdown.

The district administration has imposed smart lockdown in eight areas after increase in coronavirus cases.

The army personnel distributed face masks among the locals and advised them to follow the SOPs while visiting markets.

In Mohmand, the authorities have urged people to strictly follow SOPs and avoid unnecessary gatherings.

The district health officer, Dr Hayat, said that implementation of SOPs was the only way to contain spread of the virus. “So far, 170 positive cases have been registered in the district,” he said.

So far, 2,354 persons have been vaccinated in the district.

In Dera Ismail Khan, police and district administration suspended business activities in different parts of the city after 6pm under a newly formulated policy on Covid-19 pandemic.

Special teams have been formed to enforce the SOPs and shut business centres after 6pm.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2021