Public spaces virtually locked down across Punjab till April 5

Punjab govt bans public gatherings

LAHORE: Following the imposition of a health emergency in the wake of increasing number of coronavirus patients in the country, the government has virtually locked down all public places and imposed restrictions on public gatherings till April 5.

After educational institutions, the government has closed down all public parks, zoos, gyms, play areas, banquet halls and marquees for three weeks. It has also imposed a ban on all religious congregations across the province and directed all field officers to ensure complete compliance with the government’s directives to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

As the first case of coronavirus reported in the province emerged in a hospital in Lahore, the provincial government decided to impose section 144 for three weeks across Punjab. The decision was made in an effort to prohibit hoarding and profiteering of hand sanitisers, opening of all private and public educational institutes, booking of banquet halls and marquees, holding of examinations, religious congregations, public gatherings and sports festivals.

The government also directed all divisional commissioners to allocate one hospital in each division for treatment of coronavirus patients and make arrangements for quarantine and isolation as well.

The closure of banquet halls and marquees has created problems for citizens who had booked these venues for marriage and other functions, The Express Tribune learnt. Dozens of families reportedly have to make alternate arrangements for their functions as banquet halls have refused to entertain their requests following strict implementation of the ban in wake of the increase in coronavirus cases.

A local banquet hall owner, Ali Muhammad, said that all marriage halls and marquees have been sealed across the provincial capital. “We have to cancel all functions on government instructions in this emergency situation.

After imposition of the ban on banquet halls, people switched to host functions in open spaces but local administration has also put ban on open gatherings, disclosed a catering company owner, Muhammad Zubair Alam.

He pointed out the local administration uprooted tents of a wedding function arranged in a park in Township area on Saturday night. The ban has virtually brought banquet halls and the catering business to a standstill as all bookings have been cancelled, he added.

A citizen named Raees Ahmad remarked that although it is true that the situation is unusual, the government has overreacted. “The government should warn citizens and give some time to us before imposing bans on banquet halls and family gatherings.”

He said he had booked a reception for his daughter three weeks ago. “All arrangements had been completed and advance payments had been made to vendors but a day before the event, we came to know that our hall booking had been canceled on government instructions.”

Punjab Minister for Health Dr Yasmin Rashid suggested that kits should be provided to private labs by the government so that citizens can be facilitated with testing of coronavirus at affordable rates.

She maintained that the health department has established a helpline with the number 1033 to provide information on the virus to the general public.

Meanwhile, Punjab Information Department, in collaboration with renowned artists from the film and drama industry, initiated the ‘Salute Salaam’ awareness campaign against coronavirus.

The campaign is aimed to promote the habit of verbal greetings instead of traditional handshakes to slow down the spread of coronavirus as physical contact is considered the most common way for the disease to spread.

Ceremonies allowed at homes

After Punjab Home Department imposed section 144 to prohibit public gatherings, the government clarified that this ban does not prohibit gatherings of four or more citizens, as was reported by electronic media.

According to the notification issued by the home department, despite prohibiting opening of educational institutes, marriage halls and seminaries, marriage ceremonies were allowed to be held within homes.

In a high-level meeting on coronavirus, Punjab Chief Secretary Azam Suleman Khan said that all stakeholders in society would have to play their role in efforts to combat the virus. “Besides strictly adhering to the advisory on precautionary measures, every citizen must act responsibly to protect themselves and others from this disease.”

Additional Chief Secretary Home Momin Agha told the meeting that section 144 has been imposed for three weeks across Punjab to protect the citizens from coronavirus and to prohibit hoarding and profiteering of hand sanitisers.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 16^th, 2020.