Lockdown extended for two more weeks
ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday announced a two-week extension to the nationwide shutdown to curb the Covid-19 spread, but said that some industries would reopen in phases.
The first industry to reopen would be construction, Khan said in a televised address to the nation. “That lockdown, those restrictions on gatherings will continue for another two weeks,” Khan said.
Sharing the decisions taken by a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) with the media, the prime minister noted that the government had announced a lockdown after 26 cases were confirmed in the country and thanked the public for restricting themselves to their homes.
“I am glad to share that the coronavirus spread only 30 per cent of what the government had projected because of the way the people observed the lockdown in difficult times,” he said.
Financial assistance
However, Khan cautioned the people against lowering their guard, saying infections from the virus could spike at any time.
In order to ease the economic impact from the ongoing crisis, the prime minister said the government was providing financial assistance to the people through its flagship Ehsaas programme and had decided against interfering in any agricultural activities in the rural areas, a report said.
He said all the provinces had also reached “98 per cent consensus” on which industries to reopen and which would remain closed. The prime minister clarified that the federal government would not impose its decisions on the provinces, which he said have the right to delay the opening of industries if they so wish.
He also announced that the government will bring an ordinance for the construction industry under which the industry will be given a stimulus package to start its activities in the country.
In view of the holy month of Ramadan, which is starting later this month, the prime minister said that the government will consult ulema from all schools of thought and guide the public on how they can maintain a balance between offering prayers and preventing the spread of Covid-19.