Covid-19 curbs on public transport, trade activities intensified in capital

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad administration intensified restrictions on public transport and commercial activities following National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) guidelines to curb Covid-19 cases on Friday.
Islamabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muhammed Hamza Shafqaat announced that public transport to and from Islamabad was being banned from 12:00 midnight following the guidelines of the NCOC.
He said, in his Twitter message, that all commercial activities will be banned across Islamabad on Saturday and Sunday. Shafqaat added that the ban is also imposed on outdoor dining, public parks and other gatherings.
Earlier on April 4, the NCOC had suspended inter-provincial transport for two days a week (Saturday and Sunday) while keeping in view the recent spike in Covid-19 cases amid the third wave of the disease.
The NCOC had restricted inter-provincial public transport only on weekends. However, cargo trucks, containers, medical and emergency services will be exempted from the restrictions. The new restrictions will come into force from the 10th of April and will continue to remain effective till 25th of April, it ordered. NCOC had further announced that Pakistan Railways will continue to operate passenger trains seven days a week with 70 per cent occupancy.