K-P shuts educational institutions, delays exams

Emergency coronavirus measures see govt restrict public gatherings, postpone assembly session

PESHAWAR: In wake of the Novel Coronavirus outbreak in the country, the provincial government on Friday decided to close all educational institutions, suspend examinations secondary school and civil service examinations, ban public gatherings and adjourn the upcoming session of the provincial assembly for at least two weeks.

This was announced by the government after Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan chaired an emergency meeting of the provincial cabinet on Friday to review preparations made by the health and other relevant departments to prevent the possible outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

In a handout regarding the special meeting chaired by the chief minister, Mahmood assured that the provincial government is fully prepared to deal with COVID-19 and that no compromise will be made one preventive and precautionary measures against it.

“Precautionary and preventive measures are the best way to be safe from the virus,” the chief minister said and urged the public to restrict social interactions and avoid community gatherings. He further directed to launch a mass public awareness campaign about the virus.

Addressing a news conference after the meeting, K-P Health Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra and Adviser to Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir stated that in the larger health interests of the public, all educational institutions, including public and private schools, colleges, universities, tuition and coaching centres, training institutions, hostels and religious seminaries in the province will remain closed for the next 15 days.

Moreover, all sorts of exams scheduled during this period will be suspended as well.

The special meeting also decided to delay all sorts of meetings in person while the public has been requested to limit social activities, including attendance of marriage ceremonies. The session of the provincial assembly, scheduled to be held on March 16, has been postponed until March 30.

“The provincial government has requested the masses to voluntarily suspend marriage functions or limit them to just a few guests until the threat subsides, they added.

In this regard, all public gatherings of the provincial government involving more than 50 people, festivals, seminars, and cultural events have also been suspended until further notice.

CM Mahmood also suspended all scheduled arrangements in his constituency.

They added that the district administration has been authorised to take necessary action in this regard, including suspension of public gatherings in their respective districts and to temporarily suspend meetings with prisoners in district jails.

“We have informed the district administrations to take decision-related to the closures of religious seminaries, but it should be cleared that we do not have any positive cases in the province,” Wazir said, adding, “all education and other institution will reopen after consultation with the coronavirus taskforces and the health ministry.”

Wazir said that officials have been directed to utilise the various medium for keeping up communications.

Asked about coronavirus cases in the province after a diplomat deputed in Kabul was had tested positive for the virus at the Torkham border the other day, Wazir said that no case has emerged from within the province so far.

“We have already tested 27 suspected cases which have tested negative while four are still under observation,” he said, adding that and in light of measures taken internationally, the provincial government has also taken precautionary measures.

Regarding the closure of the border with Afghanistan, the government said that a decision on it will be taken by the national security committee.

They added that the government has already set up a helpline for the virus, 1700, which will be operational around the clock to report any case and to offer assistance as needed.

The two government officials noted that they were optimistic the province will survive the virus given its united resilience in countering militancy.

Wazir further said that the cabinet had approved a measure to exempt the provincial health department from the relevant K-PPRA rules for the purchase of necessary medicines and equipment on an emergency basis.

Later in the day, notifications were issued for the suspension of the assembly, the SSC annual examinations for grades nine and ten by the Peshawar, Mardan and Abbottabad boards, and the public service commission exams for posts of naib tehsildar.

It was further notified that the Federal Science (FSc) Annual Examinations, which were scheduled to be held on April 16, have also been postponed and a new schedule will be announced once the postponed matriculation exams are complete.

Separately, Hazara Commis­sioner Zaheerul Islam told the media that all educational institutions — public and private — in the eight districts of the Hazara Division will remain closed from tomorrow, March 14, for at least 15 days and that strict disciplinary action will be taken against violators.

Similarly, Abbottabad Uni­ver­sity of Science and Technology (AUST) Vice-Chan­cellor Professor Mujaddadur Rehman has notified that the varsity will remain closed for at least a fortnight, and date to reopen the varsity will be announced after March 31.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM ZUBAIR AYUB IN ABBOTTABAD 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2020.