–Govt bans intra-city public transport across province
–472 arrested during first day of lockdown in province
KARACHI: A complete lockdown against coronavirus was observed in here in the provincial capital of Sindh as well as in other cities and towns all over the province where roads, bazaars, restaurants, offices and shopping centres were deserted on Monday, marking the first day of the Sindh government’s 15-day lockdown.
According to the details, all markets and business activities remained suspended with low or no public transport on the roads as Sindh Transport Minister Awais Shah announced that the lockdown would also include a ban on the movement of all public transport across the province.
“Public transport and online-cab services commuting within all cities would remain suspended during the lockdown,” he said.
Buses, taxis, rickshaws and online cab services have also been suspended across the province. As the provincial minister asked people to stay at home, the only means of transport left for citizens was private vehicles. Even then, only two people are allowed to travel in a vehicle together, or three in case of a medical emergency.
Vowing to win the war against the pandemic, Shah praised the people for supporting the difficult decisions made by the government in the face of the global pandemic.
He disclosed that in the last two days, 300 vehicles have been issued challans, 50 route permits have been cancelled, 20 vehicles have been impounded, one transporter has been booked and more than 12 transporters have been arrested for violating government orders in the crisis situation.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Monday decided to close Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport and Sukkur’s airport for all domestic flights from today (Tuesday) till April 4, as a precautionary measure to limit the spread of coronavirus in the country.
The airports will remain closed for all types of domestic incoming and outgoing passenger flight operations, with effect from 6am on Tuesday till April 4, said the notification issued by the CAA amid the provincial lockdown.
As indisposed people suffered due to being unable to reach hospitals to get examined and treated owing to the unavailability of transport, newspaper hawkers were barred from operating and newspaper stalls were also shut down.
According to the police, newspapers are passed from one hand to another which may cause the virus to spread.
However, the labour community are among the worst affected by the lockdown.
It may be mentioned here that grocery stores, medical stores, vegetable shops and petrol pumps are exempt from the ban.
In Karachi, a heavy contingent of Sindh Police and Pakistan Rangers Sindh were seen patrolling the streets while obstacles were also set up at all main thoroughfares and roundabouts to stop people from coming out of their homes. People were only being allowed to get out of the house in case of an emergency.
During the first day of lockdown in Sindh as a part of the measures against coronavirus, 472 people were arrested for violating directives issued by the provincial government.
The report said that 72 cases were registered across the province.
In Karachi, 222 people were arrested and 33 cases were registered.
According to the break down, 16 in South zone, 60 in east and one in the west zone were arrested. Across Sindh, the report said six in Mirpur Khas, eight in Sukkur and 236 were arrested in Larkana. In Sindh’s Mirpur Khas, two cases were registered, one in Sukkur and 36 in Larkana.
As per the report, 13 cases were registered in Karach’s south zone, 19 in the east and one in the west zone against the violators. Sindh government imposed a province-wide lockdown on March 23, as Pakistan continued to report cases of coronavirus. As of Monday, the number of confirmed cases have crossed 800.
Provincial Minister Saeed Ghani had said that violators of the lock-down will be arrested by authorities under Section 144 and may be sent to jail.
AUTHORISED MEDIA PERSONS EXEMPTED :
The Sindh Home Department on Monday said that media persons authorised by the Information Department have been exempted in view of lockdown against the coronavirus.
According to a notification in this regard, it has been decided that all newspaper hawkers and media personnel carrying original Computerised National Identity Card (CNICs) and press ID card issued by their respective organisations (newspapers, FM radio, and TV news channels), will be deemed exempt from the lockdown orders.
Media organisations operating in the province have been advised to inform their reporters, cameramen, photographers, news personnel and other essential staff to carry the above identification documents with them while commuting between their homes and place of work.
Without these instruments of identification, no media person shall be allowed exemption.
It merits to be mentioned here that the tally of the COVID-19 affected patients in Sindh, till filing of this report, stands at 394 whereas the total confirmed cases all over the country now total 875.
