PM Imran Khan announces to lift lockdown from Saturday

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced to lift the lockdown from Saturday. Briefing the nation about decisions made during today’s meeting of National Coordination Committee (NCC), the prime minister said that the NCC has decided to lift the lockdown in phases starting from Saturday. The premier said the decision to lift lockdown has been taken to mitigate the suffering of daily-wage earners, labourers and weak segments of society. “The decision has been made due to the suffering of our people,” he explained. “Every sector is reeling under difficulties at present, small traders, rickshaw and taxi drivers, as well as labourers, are facing great hardships due to [to the lockdown],” he pointed out, adding no one can say for sure if coronavirus cases will see a spike after relaxation in the lockdown. Imran Khan said the government rolled out the biggest relief package in Pakistan’s history. “How long can we give a package? So we have to lift the lockdown,” he stressed. “We have to lift the lockdown, but wisely after consulting with the provinces,” he said, adding that it was decided to ease the lockdown. He maintained that all the provinces still have concerns over the opening of public transport. The premier said that it was also decided not to resume railway operation and domestic flight operations. “Inter-provincial transport will also not be restored. It has been decided to open small shops across the country from 5am to 5pm while educational institutions will remain closed till July 15,” he explained. “All industries that are being allowed to resume operations will have to follow standard operation procedures (SOPs) to avoid spread of the deadly virus. The prime minister further cautioned that if the people failed to follow SOPs and cases see a surge, the government will be compelled to again enforce the lockdown. “It is up to the people to follow the SOPs as police can’t enforce guidelines by force.”