PESHAWAR: Advisor to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations Ajmal Wazir has said that the government has issued a fresh notification wherein public transport was to resume under SOPs decided by the government.
Briefing the media on Saturday, the advisor informed that the extension was aimed at minimising the risks of coronavirus adding public transport was given permission from Monday but with SOPs.
He informed that all divisional commissioners will form SOPs in collaboration with regional transport authorities adding that the district administration, transport authorities and transporters will ensure implementation of SOPs.
The decision to open routes connecting different divisions will be taken at the provincial level, he informed adding the decision to open transport has been taken after consultation with the federal government.
He informed that petrol pumps and CNG stations have been exempted from the ban and could run their activities round the clock.
Further, apart from necessary offices, all offices will be closed after the holidays that have been extended till May 31.
The provincial government has also decided to keep barber and salon shops open till 4 pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with SOPs where only hair cutting was allowed.
He stated that crowds at barber and salon shops should be avoided. Besides, sitting in the waiting area would not be allowed.
He informed that the purpose of easing the lockdown was to minimise problems being faced by the general public as the government was fighting on two fronts simultaneously, coronavirus and poverty.
The advisor questioned Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League (N) what they did during their tenures adding both the parties looted the country for 30 years.
He informed that the entire government machinery under the leadership of Chief Minister (CM) Mehmood Khan was on the front line as per the vision of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and requested people to follow the government guidelines.
The advisor warned that businesses will be sealed if the SOPs violate adding people should wear masks and ensure social distance.
While talking about coronavirus stats in the province, the advisor stated that 255 new cases were reported in KP, bringing the total number of corona patients to 5,678.
He informed that in the last 24 hours, 7 deaths were recorded in the province, bringing the total number of deaths to 291. “However, 108 patients have recovered in a single day in KP, adding that the total number of patients defeating coronavirus in the province has reached 1,613 now.
