ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Covid monitoring and response body, National Command Operation Center (NCOC) banned all kind of gatherings (indoor/outdoor) with immediate effect. This will include all social, cultural, political, sports and other events.
A complete ban on marriages (including indoor & outdoor) will come into effect from 5th April onwards However, provinces will be at liberty to implement restrictions earlier as per the situation on the ground.
NCOC will provide updated hotspot maps to provinces for enforcement of expanded lockdowns with effect from 29th March 2. These decisions will be implemented in districts/cities with an average positivity rate of 8%.
NCOC Special Session, chaired by Mr Asad Umar was held on 28th March. Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, KP and Balochistan attended the session via video link.
Held ncoc meeting today with provincial chief secretaries & reviewed the situation. Based on continuing increase in disease spread & fast pace at which hospital fill up is taking place, particularly critical covid patients, decided to further tighten restrictions.
Furthermore, during the session, various options for the reduction of inter Provincial transport were considered. The final decision will be taken based on the input from provinces and analysis of data regarding the number of interprovincial commuters via air, rail and road.
The session also emphasised that the provinces need to ensure that vaccination targets given by NCOC are met within the given timeframe and correct and timely data is entered into National Immunization Management System (NIMS).
