Committees formed to implement SOPs

Teams of traders, Ulema, local elders will patrol markets

ABBOTTABAD: Special committees have been formed in the Hazara division to ensure the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

Traders, transporters and ulema had beseeched the government to ease the lockdown and had promised to follow whatever guidelines were issued by the government. However, as soon as the government eased the lockdown, people forgot the SOPs, resulting in a spike of Covid-19 cases.

To control the situation and make people follow the guidelines, Hazara DIG Qazi Jamilur Rehman has formed committees at the police station level. Every precinct will have a Covid-committee comprising ulema, local elders, traders and members of the citizen-police liaison committees.

Pakistan surpasses China in Covid-19 cases as lockdown eased across country

These teams will make frequent visits to business and commercial areas, including filling stations to see if the SOPs are being followed.

DIG Hazara warned the people to follow SOPs in their routine life as Covid-19 was spreading fast and only preventive measures can stop the pandemic.

In the meantime, acting on directives of the K-P government, the police launched a crackdown against violators of Covid-19 SOPs.

Police said at least 1,400 people have been booked for violating the SOPs in the Hazara division, including transporters, owners of the shopping malls, shopkeepers, and citizens for not wearing face masks and not following the social distancing rules in markets and public and private transport.

Similarly, owners of more than 2,500 vehicles were penalised and many public transport vehicles were impounded by the traffic police for ignoring the SOPs.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2020.