Daily Times

Balochistan government Thursday warned that it may order a complete lockdown across province, as coronavirus cases through local transmission continue to surge.

“Eight hundred and eighty locally transmitted cases have been reported [in the province],” said Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani, adding that if the government decided to impose a complete lockdown across province, it will result in a curfew. He said that the government has decided to open the Pak-Afghan border at Chaman for only two days a week, on Saturdays and Sundays. “Pakistanis stranded in Afghanistan will be allowed to return home on these two days,” Shahwani.

On the other hand, Adviser to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir announced that the provincial government has decided to extend the lockdown till May 15. He clarified that tandoors and milk shops will continue to remain open throughout the province after 4 pm.

Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, meanwhile, denied reports of lockdown in the province being lifted.

Speaking to the media, the minister said, “The government’s top priority at the moment is to safeguard people’s lives. We are focused on saving human lives. We are aware that the people have sacrificed a lot but we are not willing to put their safety at risk.” Sindh Transport Minister Syed Awais Shah said provincial government will not lift ban on public transport in Sindh until the countrywide lockdown ends.

Talking to media in Karachi, the minister said that government is implementing the smart lockdown strategy and has allowed some industries to resume their operations. He said transporters have cooperated with the government during the lockdown in the province and they will not leave them alone in these difficult times. “Some standard operating procedures (SOPs) for transporters have been formulated while the SOPs for intercity bus service has also been proposed,” he said, adding that he will put forward demands and suggestions of the transporters in front of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.