Lockdown to be lifted in phases starting May 9: PM Imran Khan

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Live?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Live</aPrime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImranKhanPTI</a> briefs media regarding NCC meeting decisions <a href="https://t.co/f0HYPv9rlB">https://t.co/f0HYPv9rlB</a></p>— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) <a href="https://twitter.com/RadioPakistan/status/1258339093966057474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Lockdown to be lifted in phases starting Saturday: PM Imran

Prime MInister Imran Khan has said that the lockdown will be lifted in phases starting from Saturday.

He was addressing the nation after a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) in Islamabad.

The premier added that the decision was made "because our people are suffering".

Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged people to take responsibility, saying that the success of the next phase depends on people following the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the government.

The premier added that whoever leaves his home and all industries that are allowed to reopen will have to follow the SOPs. He warned that if people failed to follow them and cases spiked, the government would be forced to enforce the lockdown again.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that public transport will remain shut over provinces' reservations.

Speaking after the National Coordination Committee (NCC) meeting in Islamabad, the premier said: "I believe public transport should be reopened because it is the common man's mode of transport but the provinces have reservations. We do not want to take decisions unless there is unanimity."

https://www.dawn.com/live-blog/

 

[MenInG]

Poll added

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan will begin lifting a five-week coronavirus lockdown in phases on Saturday, even though the number of cases is still accelerating.
"We know that we're doing it at a time when our curve is going up,” Prime Minister Imran Khan told the nation, but he said "our people are suffering".

Public transport will remain suspended and schools shut.

Doctors and experts have warned that easing the lockdown will increase the spread of coronavirus in Pakistan, which recorded its biggest daily increase of 1,523 cases on Thursday. So far it has reported 24,073 coronavirus cases with 564 deaths.

 

[Rana]

They have no choice. Either day of poverty and hunger or die of Covid

 

[Abdullah719]

PM Imran says lockdown to be lifted in phases from Saturday

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday announced that the nationwide lockdown will be lifted in phases starting from Saturday (May 9).

The announcement came as Sindh and Punjab both crossed 9,000 cases on Thursday and reported their highest daily death tolls.

Punjab reported 26 deaths, the highest single-day total of any province so far, while Sindh reported 14 deaths. The total number of deaths countrywide have reached 585, registering a 100 per cent increase over the last 10 days.

"We know that we're doing it at a time when our curve is going up [...] but it is not edging up as we were expecting,” said the prime minister in a televised address alongside his aides after a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) in Islamabad. He warned that the restrictions could be restored anytime if the outbreak worsens.

Spoiler

Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said six major decisions have been taken by the government:

More sectors related to construction will be opened
Selected OPDs will be opened to treat specific diseases and illnesses
Markets will open after sehri but close at 5pm
Markets will remain closed for two days per week
Small markets will also be allowed to open
Schools to remain shut until July 15
"Earlier, we had decided to reopen our construction industry. Now we have decided to reopen more sectors related to the industry," Umar stated, as he explained that earlier decision to give permission to bigger markets to reopen will now be expanded to cover smaller markets as well.

Big shopping malls and other spaces which attract big crowds, however, would remain closed for now.

Umar said that the government deliberated opening markets after iftar but ended up deciding that markets should not open at night.

"Markets will open after sehri but they will have to close at 5pm," Umar said.

"Markets will remain closed two days a week. Our police officials need a much-needed respite [from enforcing lockdown measures]."

Umar added that OPDs in hospitals, which were shut during the lockdown, will now reopen in "selected and reserved" hospitals across the country.

'Take responsibility,' PM urges people
Prime Minister Imran said that the decision to lift the lockdown was taken "because our people are suffering", adding that everyone — from labourers, daily wage workers, rickshaw drivers to middle class families — was struggling financially due to the lockdown.

While acknowledging that the government has launched Ehsaas emergency cash programme — the most "expansive and generous" social welfare programme in the country's history — the prime minister noted that due to dwindling revenues, it was not possible for the government to keep its welfare services liquid for "much long".

Prime Minister Imran urged people to take responsibility once the lockdown is lifted, arguing that the success of the next phase depends on people following the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the government.

"When I spoke to German chancellor Angela Merkel recently, she told me that fellow Germans were disciplined and would follow precautions and SOPs. Today, I'm requesting you, my fellow Pakistanis, to become responsible and intelligent citizens so that we can defeat this virus together," Khan said.

The premier added that all the industries that are allowed to reopen will have to follow the SOPs.

He warned that if people failed to follow the guidelines and SOPs, resulting in spike in cases and deaths, the government will be forced to enforce the lockdown again.

Prime Minister Imran also stated that public transport will remain shut over provinces' reservations, even if he personally believed otherwise.

"I believe public transport should be reopened because it is the common man's mode of transport but the provinces have reservations. And I have said from day one that we do not want to take decisions unless there is unanimity," Khan said.

The prime minister also acknowledged the recent spike in new coronavirus cases and deaths in the country. Citing the second "deadlier" outbreak of the 1918 Spanish Flu, he admitted that a second wave of new infections was a realistic possibility once the lockdown measures are lifted. But the prime minister said that "no one can say or predict for certain what will happen", adding that decisions have to be made to stop the suffering of people.

Schools to stay shut
Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood, meanwhile, announced that all schools, universities and other educational institutions will remain closed till July 15.

He said that all board exams have been cancelled. "We will pass or fail students based on their results from the previous year," he announced.

"Students' health and their education cannot be compromised," he added.

The government had earlier announced that all education institutions will remain closed until May 31.

Prime Minister's focal person on Covid-19, Dr Faisal Sultan, said that the the trajectory of the spread of virus was different for each country.

"In the US, it spread like wildfire, where more Americans have now died from this virus than in Vietnam War," he said, adding that Pakistan will have to consider its own context for decision-making purposes.

Like the prime minister, Dr Sultan also acknowledged the sharp spike in new coronavirus cases in the country but reasoned that this was because "we are testing more and more people everyday".

He said that while some hospitals across the country were now running at full capacity, the healthcare system luckily did not collapse as was feared at the start of the outbreak.

Repatriation of Pakistanis continues
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yusuf clarified that not all of the stranded Pakistanis being flown back to the country are testing positive for the coronavirus.

"This is a misconception. Please do not stigmatise those returning to the country," he requested.

He added that the government is in the process of talking to those countries from where 40 to 50 per cent of the returning passengers had tested positive.

Yusuf also stated that the country's air flights to repatriate stranded Pakistan will continue, as per the prime minister's directions, adding that it was not possible for the government to bring back all 120,000 registered at once.

"We can't bring back all at once because we would need to test every Pakistani coming back. We are considering [prime minister's] self-quarantine policy and if provinces agree, then we will be able to bring 13 to 14,000 people per week," Yusuf concluded.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1555295/pm-imran-says-lockdown-to-be-lifted-in-phases-from-saturday

 

[MenInG]

Imran Khan hopes Pakistanis play by rules
M Ilyas Khan

BBC News, Islamabad

Pakistan’s lifting of its nationwide lockdown from Saturday will see curbs eased on businesses, including marketplaces.

Out-patient departments that were ordered shut to curb the spread of infection will also reopen. But as part of a phased approach, schools and colleges will remain closed. All exams have been cancelled.

And shop opening times remain restricted; markets will open only in the day and be shut over weekends to try to prevent overcrowding. People prefer evening shopping during Ramadan after they have broken their fast.

In his address, Prime Minister Imran Khan stressed again that people had to ensure social distancing rules were obeyed. If not, the government would have to reimpose a stricter lockdown.

There are fears the situation could worsen under increased relaxation. Officials say more than 80% of total infections have been caused by local transmission.

 

[Local.Dada]

They have no choice. Either day of poverty and hunger or die of Covid

It is not that black and white. firstly let us say the poor laborer is ready to get back to work or the auto driver or rickshaw puller etc. will the construction business or any other labor intensive business have the same activity it had pre-covid?

Now second point,the poor people are a high risk demographic because they live in close proximity in very small houses/huts etc and there is a risk this can spread like wild fire and in turn to other citizens as well.

100% agree that a long lockdown is not a viable option for anyone especially the poor.

However there should be an arrangement made to ensure the poor get ration for atleast a couple of months or for a time frame. I know it is easier said than done but unless there is an actual actionable plan and I am not just talking about Pakistan all these poor people will suffer or statements for or against lockdown are just empty political rhetoric.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan records highest single-day death toll as govt moves to ease lockdown measures
Punjab, Sindh and KP have collectively reported 46 deaths.

 

[Abdullah719]

Punjab govt to submit recommendation for not lifting lockdown in big cities of the province

Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan has said that the provincial government will submit a recommendation to the Centre for not lifting lockdown in the province's major cities.

Speaking to the media in Lahore, he said: "We have seen that there is a hype about coronavirus in some big cities. Therefore, we are submitting this recommendation to the federal government and if it is approved, then the lockdown and standard operating procedures will remain in big cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan and Gujranwala."

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">حکومت پاکستان کی تمام صنعتوں سے کرونا سے بچاؤ کی احتیاطی تدابیر پر عمل پیرا ہونے کی درخواست۔ تمام صنعتی مالکان کو ورکرز کے لیے کرونا سے بچاؤ کی احتیاطی تدابیر پر عمل کروانے کے لیے تمام وسائل بروے کار لانے کی ھدایت۔ آپکا تعاون آپکے ورکرز کی صحت اور معاشی حالت کو بہتر کر سکتا ہے۔ <a href="https://t.co/au062esDYt">pic.twitter.com/au062esDYt</a></p>— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakPMO/status/1258766561302675461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Abdullah719]

Pakistan is loosening an economic lockdown despite the rising number of coronavirus cases in the country.

Shops and businesses have begun to re-open in the capital Islamabad as part of a phased easing of restrictions.

Clothing and shoe shops and small markets are among the first to start trading, but shopping centres are still shut.

On Friday, more than 2,000 new cases were reported, taking the number of those infected to more than 27,000 with around 600 deaths so far.

But business associations in Pakistan have welcomed the move, saying the country cannot afford to remain shut for long and that millions of jobs will be saved.

Pakistan's economy is already suffering because of falling remittances from abroad and declining exports.

When he announced the easing of restrictions earlier this week, Prime Minister Imran Khan said Pakistan's poor could not afford to live under lockdown and that people now had to stick to social distancing rules.

 

[MenInG]

KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) expressed its dissatisfaction over the existing lockdown in the country, warning the government against lifting restrictions as it would allow the coronavirus to spread further.

"A better lockdown should be imposed," said Dr Ikram Tunio, President PMA Central. "The federal government has principally said it would ease the lockdown whereas the PMA is in favour of a strict lockdown, safety precautions and introduction of public awareness campaigns so that the coronavirus is contained," he added.

He said that at the moment, there were only 63 beds allocated for coronavirus patients in Karachi's five government hospitals. "Whatever figures you have been provided, these [figures] are in our knowledge. As you know very well, Karachi is Pakistan's largest city and the infection will only spread if the situation remains the same," he said.

Dr Tunio said that other cities were also at risk if the infection started spreading in Karachi at a faster pace. He said that this was not a lockdown as one could witness 'juloos' outside NADRA offices and vegetable markets.

"What we refer to as a lockdown, this is not that [lockdown]," he said. "If restrictions are eased, then think about what will happen," he added. "We advise the government to implement the WHO's protocols."

https://www.geo.tv/latest/287164-pm...9-lockdown-warns-against-lifting-restrictions

 

[Abdullah719]

Pakistanis crowd markets as provinces ease coronavirus lockdown

People across Pakistan crowded markets on Saturday after a nationwide coronavirus lockdown was eased, despite the country recording its second-highest daily infection toll.

The government has allowed businesses to reopen in phases from the weekend, citing the economic havoc the virus restrictions have wreaked on citizens.

Spoiler

In Rawalpindi, thousands of shoppers were preparing for Eidul Fitr, with many flouting social distancing rules and advice to wear masks.

In Karachi, shopkeepers set out their wares of shoes, clothes, bangles and fabrics, while in the capital Islamabad shoppers stood in tightly-packed queues as they waited for stores to open.

Similar scenes were played out in Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar.

Omar Shirazi, a banker shopping for clothes with his daughter in Rawalpindi, welcomed the move.

“Eid is approaching,” he said. “We have to buy new garments for our children. It's the responsibility of people to comply with rules and wear safety gear.”

Tehmina Sattar, who was shopping with her sister and sons, was more cautious.

“We are happy with this decision but at the same time I have a fear in my heart that if this disease spreads it could be devastating. People here are not taking preventative measures.”

Information Minister Shibli Faraz warned earlier in the day that the lockdown on businesses would be reimposed if safety guidelines were not followed, after authorities reported more than 1,700 new cases in the past 24 hours.

Infections have been rising steadily as testing has increased, with more than 28,000 cases and more than 600 deaths recorded.

The easing comes as many across the country have openly ignored restrictions on gatherings in public during the past month, especially during the evenings as people observe Ramazan.

Schools will remain closed until mid-July however, while there are no immediate plans to restart public transportation or domestic flights.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1555818/pakistanis-crowd-markets-as-provinces-ease-coronavirus-lockdown

 

[MenInG]

KARACHI (Reuters) - Markets across Pakistan were teeming on Monday after opening up for the first time in over a month as the country began to lift its lockdown despite a rise in the rate of coronavirus infections.

Pakistan announced last week that it would begin a phased lifting of its lockdown because of the effect it was having on the economy and an impoverished workforce.

Public transport remains shut, but factories and offices have been allowed to resume operations. Restrictions on mosque attendance had already been lifted before last week’s announcement.

“We opened today after almost two months; I am almost bankrupt and owe workers their salaries,” said Muhammad Sattar, a garment shop owner in one of the busiest commercial areas of Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and financial capital.

Areas around wholesale markets in Karachi saw heavy traffic jams, and there were also big crowds in the commercial centres of the provincial capitals of Lahore and Quetta.

However, there are signs that Pakistan’s outbreak is accelerating. Of its 667 deaths from the coronavirus, around 200 have been registered over the past week, and there are almost 31,000 confirmed infections.

Prime Minister Imran Khan justified easing the lockdown by saying: “We know we’re doing it at a time when our (infection) curve is going up ... but it is not increasing (as fast) as we were expecting.”

But he said the virus could run out of control if people did not take precautions.

Faisal Subzwari, a leader of a political party allied with Khan, tweeted his frustration with many citizens:

“If 99%, 95% of shopkeepers and buyers are not wearing masks, what’s the point of talking about other precautionary measures?”

Many doctors have said they fear the outbreak will gather pace among a population of more than 200 million and overwhelm the struggling health system.

Markets were also packed in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, which has registered 245 dead and has the highest mortality rate in the country.

“I opened my shop for the first time today after locking it on March 24,” said Ghousul Azam, adding that he had a family to support. “Better to die of coronavirus, because I can’t survive sitting at home.”

Schools and large shopping malls remain shut for now, and markets will initially be allowed to operate only until 5 p.m.

But with the Muslim holiday of Eid coming in two weeks, crowds are likely to increase.

 

[The Viper]

PM Imran says eased coronavirus lockdown looking at other countries, Pakistan's economic woes

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said Monday the lockdown to contain the coronavirus spread was eased considering the situation in other countries, as well as Pakistan's economic and public woes.

A meeting was held with PM Imran in the chair to review the implementation of directives to relax the country-wide lockdown, with federal ministers Asad Umar, Hammad Azhar, Shibli Faraz, and Khusro Bakhtiar, as well as advisers Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and Abdul Razzak Dawood.

According to sources, the premier was briefed on the overall coronavirus-related situation in the country and statistics from the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC). Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Security Moeed Yusuf also apprised the PM about the repatriation of overseas Pakistanis.

Sources informed Geo News that the meeting also analysed the rate of virus spread in the country which has spiked in the last few days.

PM Imran said an integrated strategy should be formulated to make ventilators easily available and ensure their best use. The lockdown was relaxed keeping in view the economic situation and the challenges the people in Pakistan were facing, as well as the conditions in foreign nations, he added.

The government eased the countrywide lockdown in a phased manner to maintain a balance between economic activities and protective measures against COVID-19, the premier said. Countries around the world were realising that the lockdown to contain the pandemic was only a temporary effort, he noted, adding, however, that safety measures should not be ignored in any circumstances.

PM Imran also directed for concerns in various quarters over the coronavirus testing to be allayed, that the public be encouraged to get tested by themselves in case an individual experienced symptoms, and that people be informed about how to self-quarantine.

It is noteworthy here that positive cases of coronavirus in Pakistan have shot to more than 31,000, while almost 700 people have lost their lives to the deadly infection.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/287450-pm...ng-at-other-countries-pakistans-economic-woes

 

[The Viper]

PM Imran says lockdown no solution to coronavirus

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said the lockdown was not a solution to the coronavirus pandemic and posed a far greater threat to the Pakistani people than the virus.

Chairing a high-level meeting on the COVID-19 situation in the country, PM Imran discussed the lockdown and its negative impacts on the daily lives of common people. In such an unforeseen situation, the government has to maintain a balance between the precautionary measures to curb the pandemic and hunger challenges throughout the country, he said.

The premier added that the government had to make decisions based on the ground realities and the plight of the people. "We must keep it in mind that until our economy does not resume fully in this situation, the challenges of the poor and the needy will continue to rise," he added.

The PM said while the government understood how the closure of the businesses caused irreparable damage to the economy, "we were forced to take this step".

"Coronavirus is a reality. We need to ensure that no matter what, the protective measures and the rules and regulations laid down to curb the deadly virus are implemented so that people's lives remain safe," he added.

PM Imran also emphasised on the importance of adopting a people-friendly and knowledge-based approach to ensuring the implementation of precautionary measures. "Instead of forcing people to adhere to the safety measures, awareness should be created in this regard," he explained.

He further directed the police to be friendly towards people instead of maintaining a harsh, coercive attitude. Noting and lauding the media's role in public awareness on the novel coronavirus, the premier said media should play a much more effective role in encouraging the public to take precautionary measures and abide by the rules and regulations.

Among the participants in the meeting were federal ministers Asad Umar, Hammad Azhar, Shibli Faraz, Khusro Bakhtiar, and Fakhar Imam, advisers Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and Abdul Razzak Dawood, special assistants Lt Gen Asim Bajwa, Dr Zafar Mirza, and Dr Moeed Yusuf, National Disaster Management Authority Chairperson, and the focal person on COVID-19, Dr Faisal. In addition, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief ministers Usman Buzdar and Mahmood Khan, respectively, attended via a video link.

Dr Mirza, the special assistant on health, apprised the meeting in detail on the statistics of coronavirus patients across the country, confirmed cases, the geographical spread of the pandemic, testing capacity, and rate of increase in patients.

The meeting also discussed various issues, including ensuring the availability of beds in hospitals, the supply of medical equipment, and the presence of professional staff in light of future statistics and the changing situation.

It also reviewed measures to increase the capacity of health facilities and hospitals.

CMs Khan and Buzdar spoke of the common people's challenges with regard to transport. The closure of transport had significantly impacted common people's businesses and mobility, they said.

Further, the demands of the automobile sector — especially the motorcycle manufacturers — and shopping malls association, were presented to PM Imran, who directed the minister of industries to review them for decision-making in future.

The PM reiterated that the government's policy on lockdown was very clear, saying that without putting the people's lives at unnecessary risk, every sector — which was linked to the poor and underprivileged population's businesses — should be facilitated.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/288013-pm...ll-sectors-linked-to-poor-peoples-livelihoods

 

[Kianig89]

Lockdown is over just get on with business govt. Announced 9 to 5 timings for shopping market but they are open till 11pm no chek and balance. Corona is over here in Pakistan