Intra-city public transport suspended in Sindh

CAA declares Karachi and Sukkur airports closed for all domestic flights from today till April 4

KARACHI: As the Sindh government’s lockdown came into effect after midnight on Sunday, Sindh Transport Minister Awais Qadir Shah ordered a ban on intra-city as well as inter-city public transport across the province on Monday.

The provincial government had announced a complete lockdown of the province on Sunday, as part of its efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus in Sindh.

Buses, taxis, rickshaws and online cab services have also been suspended across the province. As the provincial minister asked people to stay at home, the only means of transport left for citizens was private vehicles. Even then, only two people are allowed to travel in a vehicle together, or three in case of a medical emergency.
Vowing to win the war against the pandemic, Shah praised the people for supporting the difficult decisions made by the government in the face of the global pandemic.

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He disclosed that in the last two days, 300 vehicles have been issued challans, 50 route permits have been cancelled, 20 vehicles have been impounded, one transporter has been booked and more than 12 transporters have been arrested for violating government orders in the crisis situation.

Domestic flights suspended

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Monday decided to close Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport and Sukkur’s airport for all domestic flights from today (Tuesday) till April 4, as a precautionary measure to limit the spread of coronavirus in the country.

The airports will remain closed for all types of domestic incoming and outgoing passenger flight operations, with effect from 6am on Tuesday till April 4, said the notification issued by the CAA amid the provincial lockdown.

Pakistan International Airlines has also cancelled all flight operations from Karachi and Sukkur whereas other airlines have also been informed about the decision.

On Saturday, the federal government had decided to suspend all international flights coming into or leaving Pakistan till April 4.

Medical staff faces transport commute

With the city in a complete lockdown, medical professionals faced difficulties in reaching hospitals for duty on Monday.

While the Sindh government imposed a ban on public transport, the provincial health department has not provided a transport facility to doctors, nurses and paramedical staff working at public hospitals. The shortage of staff, owing to this and other factors, is the hindering treatment process.

Meanwhile, the families of novel coronavirus patients and suspected patients in isolation also struggled to visit them. “My brother is a suspected patient has been is admitted in the hospital for the past three days,” a man told The Express Tribune.