The Sindh government is considering to review its lockdown orders. In this regard, Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani said Tuesday the lockdown rules will be revised on April 14, paving the way for a little leniency. The Sindh was the first province to report positive Coronavirus cases and ordered a complete lockdown.
PM #ImranKhan’s narrative on lockdown is winning vs Sindh Govt which is presiding human tragedy of hungry people not getting food from ill prepared administration during lockdown. pic.twitter.com/FXKS1s5kSx
— Jan Achakzai / جان اچکزئی (@Jan_Achakzai) April 1, 2020
According to details, PPP’s Ghani explained that the rules under the coronavirus lockdown will be relaxed after April 14 so that some sectors will be given conditional permission to resume their operations.
He also reminded people to continue heeding the lockdown rules as per the law until the aforementioned day. “People should cooperate with the government and not violate the lockdown,” he added.
However, despite an appeal by Sindh government to stay at homes due to coronavirus outbreak, people in large numbers can be seen at various roads of Karachi on Wednesday.
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As per details, the Karachiities have neglected the lockdown orders by the provincial government as large number of people on their vehicles were seen on the roads. The traffic jam was reported at Shahra-e-Faisal, Garibabad, Drigh Road and other roads of the metropolis. Ambulance drivers also found difficult in reaching hospitals.
Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday, had directed the law enforcement authorities to implement the lockdown in the province. “I want a strict lockdown in place as it happened during the first seven days of the shutdown,” he had said while issuing directives for stricter implementation on closure orders in the province during meeting of provincial cabinet members.
Sindh extends lockdown till April 14
The Government of Sindh had on April 3 extended the lockdown until April 14, issuing a set of new orders and guidelines to encourage social distancing and contain the coronavirus from spreading.
According to the notification, all schools, colleges, universities, madressahs and tuition centres were to remain closed till April 14.
In continuation of its previous order, shopping malls, cinemas, wedding halls, showrooms, banquets, and hotels throughout the province would also remain closed. Shrines and other holy sites would also remain closed while inter- and intra-city public transport would remain suspended (except for food and essential items).
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The home department said, in accordance with the rules announced earlier, that not more than five persons (mosque staff) would be allowed to offer congregational prayers in mosques. For funeral and burial rights, only close family members were allowed to partake after informing the local SHO beforehand.
Analysts believe that Pakistan’s economic condition does not allow the country to prolong a curfew-like lockdown. Prime Minister Imran Khan has been of the view that any attempt to restrict daily wagers to their residences might lead to some serious law and order situation.
We should, argued the premier, be careful before we decide to take any stern action to combat Coronavirus outbreak. Some media persons slammed PM Imran for not comprehending the situation and letting the virus spread across the country. However, with the passage of time, the premier was able to offer concrete evidence to support his version of partial lockdown.
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It is important to note that the Sindh government has now experienced that the province cannot remain shut for two more weeks. Therefore, it has now announced to review the rules concerning lockdown in the province.