Capital shuts parks, Pindi opens them

Timings for businesses, factories, malls extended to 6pm for 5-days-a-week

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: As novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases rise rapidly in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, contrasting decisions surfaced on Friday. The district administration of the federal capital decided to keep its parks and other public recreational areas closed while the garrison city decided to open its parks.

In a notification issued by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat on Friday, the district administration divided areas and businesses into three categories.

The first included restaurants, cafes, parks, play areas, beauty parlours, educational institutions, religious seminaries, shrines, wedding halls, business centres, expo hall, cinemas and theatres.

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These will remain closed in the city for an indefinite period, read the notification.

Moreover, there will be a “complete ban” on indoor and outdoor sporting tournaments in the city, the notification said.

In the second category are businesses, factories, shops and shopping malls. These have been allowed to remain open from 9am to 6pm, from Monday to Friday.

In the third category are fuel pumps, medical, pharmacies, and tyre puncture shops. These can remain open around the clock, seven days a week.

As a sub-category, the district administration said that grocery stores can remain open throughout the week but operate from 9am to 6pm only.

Islamabad reported its highest-ever single-day tally of cases at 402 cases on Friday, taking its total of Covid-19 cases to 3,946. It also reported three associated deaths, taking the total to 41.

Reopenings

In Rawalpindi, which has reported over 2,489 Covid-19 cases so far, the district administration is planning grand re-opening ceremonies for parks and other public places which have been shut for over two-and-a-half months.

Following directions from the Punjab government, some public parks opened on Friday evening and people were seen walking there amid the pleasant weather.

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Rawalpindi Parks and Horticulture Authority Chairman Asif Mehmood said that the parks including Allama Iqbal Park, Rawal Road Park, Dhok Munshi Park, Ladies Park and others have been reopened for the convenience of the people. He, however, added that they are taking all with precautionary measures.

He said that people coming to the park will have to wear masks and keep social distance between them. Moreover, park administrations have been directed to screen people with temperature guns before allowing them inside.

However, he said that children's play areas inside the parks remain closed.

Meanwhile, weekly smart lockdown continued in the twin cities. Shopping malls and bazaars remained open on Friday, the last day of the weekly lockdown and the district administration has been active for ensuring the Corona SOPs. The wheel of public transport and train kept running, but the metro bus service is closed.

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