23 areas declared virus hotspots in Pindi

Smart lockdown in these areas will be decided in next 24 hours

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi district administration and health department in consultation with the intelligence agencies and the special branch of police have declared 23 areas of the garrison city as hotspots of coronavirus.

The district administration officials informed that this was only a preliminary preparation in the city as all these areas are being checked on a regular basis.

Reports of coronavirus tests, confirmed patients' data have also been obtained. A final decision of a lockdown on these areas would be taken in the next 24 hours, authorities informed.

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In this regard, the areas of Rawalpindi city which have been proposed for lockdown due to coronavirus spread include A, B and C blocks of Satellite Town, Dhok Kala Khan, Sadiqabad, Muslim Town, Khurram Colony, Dhok Kashmirian, and Iqbal Town.

Dhok Paracha, Qayyumabad, Kurry Road, Dhok Ali Akbar, Magistrate Colony, Aliabad, Affandi Colony, Tench Bhatta, People's Colony, Tahli Mohri, Dhari Hassanabad, Ghousia Chowk, Allama Iqbal Colony and Jhawra are also included in the proposed plan for lockdown.

The district administration has sought a report about these areas from the special branch of police, which is responsible for intelligence gathering, officials said.

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After the reports of all the agencies, not only the final decision would be taken in the next 24 hours but also a decision will be taken to add more areas in this regard too. On the other hand the preparations for a complete lockdown are also being underway.

Instructions have also been issued regularly to the police chiefs of police stations in this regard. Police, Civil Defense personnel and Revenue Department officers will also be deployed. Provision of essential items including food, water, medicines and other items in these areas is also being reviewed. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2020.