We have decided to ease lockdown: PM Imran

We have decided to ease lockdown: PM Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that the government has decided to ease the lock-down in the country considering the impacts it has on the economy.

He was speaking after the meeting of National Coordination Committee (NCC), which is the apex corona-virus decision-making body and comprising top civil and military leaders including the provincial chief executives.

PM Imran Khan said, "I was in favour of allowing public transport but the provinces did not agree to it. So, it has been decided that the provinces will make their own standard operating procedures (SOPs) and share with the Centre."

The National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday, in a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, had proposed easing in lock-down restrictions after May 9.

The NCOC had also proposed the resumption of transportation services across the country.

The NCC meeting, chaired by the prime minister, will review the current situation of the coronavirus pandemic in the country and take a final decision about which sectors should be opened first as the number of patients surged past 24,000.

Earlier in the day, Punjab, Balochistan, and Sindh, in an inter-provincial education ministers conference, had opposed reopening educational institutions after June 1.

In the meeting, chaired by Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, the provinces stressed on keeping educational institutions closed. The meeting remained inconclusive and the matter was left for the NCC to decide.

On Tuesday, the Federal Cabinet had approved a proposal about easing country-wide restrictions after May 9.

PM Imran Khan had backed the proposal of easing restrictions in the country, keeping in view the hardships being faced by people due to the lock-down.

However, he warned of an abrupt spike in infections if the standard operating procedures (SOPs) were not implemented strictly after easing of the lock-down.

Post-lockdown SOPs

The NCOC has firmed up multiple recommendations to ease the lock-down restrictions imposed to curb the spread of corona-virus.

The measures include the opening of inter-provincial transportation in line with laid down Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and operationalisation of selective of Outdoor Patients Departments (OPDs) in the federal capital.

The suggestions included measures to strike a balance between efforts to curb corona-virus and revive economic activities. These will remain in effect till May 31, if approved in tomorrow's meeting.

The recommendations also include the opening of phase II of the construction sector and the reopening of retail outlets.

The participants also proposed that shops should remain open from 9 am to 5 pm, and then again from 8 pm to 10 pm.

No changes were made in the SOPs for religious festivities in the second half of the holy month of Ramadan; the measures will remain the same as previously agreed between the government and Ulmah