New sanctions will be imposed in major cities as the number of cases of cowardly 19 increases: Asad Omar

New sanctions will be imposed in major cities as the number of cases of cowardly 19 increases: Asad Omar

• Restrictions will be imposed in major cities from August 3 and will remain in effect until August 31.
• Eating out will be banned. Outdoor dining will be allowed until 10pm, while takeaway and restaurant delivery services will be allowed 24/7.
• Markets and shops will be closed until 8 pm instead of 10 pm. Public transport will operate at 50% capacity.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Measures Asad Umar on Monday announced some new restrictions in major cities of Pakistan in view of rising cases of coronavirus in the country.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Health Dr. Faisal Sultan, the Minister said that all decisions were taken after the approval of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The minister said the new Coronavirus restrictions would take effect on August 3 and would remain in place until August 31.

In Punjab, sanctions will be imposed in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan. There will be new restrictions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar, and Abbottabad.

In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, sanctions will be imposed in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur, while in Gilgit-Baltistan, the new rules will apply to Gilgit and Skardu.

The Sindh Minister said that lockdown already exists in Sindh and Karachi and Hyderabad but new restrictions of NCOC will also come into force after August 8.

According to the new restrictions, all commercial activities will be suspended until 8 pm instead of 10 pm, while indoor dining will be banned. He said that outdoor dining will be allowed till 10 pm instead of 12 pm, while takeaway and home delivery service from restaurants will be allowed 24 hours a day.

The Minister announced that public transport would operate at 50% capacity to avoid congestion inside vehicles.

Shops and markets will be closed twice a week, he added, adding that provincial governments would decide on safe days.

Omar added that the offices would continue to operate at 50 percent capacity and appealed to the public to get vaccinated as soon as possible.