The government has agreed, from May 9 (Saturday), to slowly lift the restrictions on lockdown, imposed to contain the effect of coronavirus, Prime Minister Imran Khan declared.
Speaking to the nation after the much-awaited National Coordination Committee (NCC) meeting, the Premier said:
“We have agreed to lift the lockdown in phases today, starting from Saturday,” He spoke with Federal Ministers Asad Umar and Shafqat Mehmood.
Revealing the decisions taken at the meeting, Minister of Planning and Development Asad Umar announced that more sectors related to the construction industry, which was partially reopened last month, have been allowed to resume operations.
In addition to opening selected patient departments (OPDs) to treat specific diseases, business permission was also given to work within set hours, however. “Markets will open after Sahoor but closed at 5:00 pm,” Umar announced, adding that they will continue to be closed for 2 days a week.
The government has also canceled all board examinations, and the students will now pass / fail based on their previous year’s results.
Educational institutions that had previously been tipped to open on 1 June will now remain closed until 15 July. Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood declared the decision: “Health and education of students can not be compromised.”
Prime Minister Imran has, however, declared that public transport would remain suspended on the demands of the provinces. “I think [public transportation] should be revived because it is the common man’s mode of transportation but there are hesitations in the provinces. If there is unanimity, we don’t want to take decisions,” he said.
Extracted from City42 News
