15 more localities under lockdown in Lahore

Covid restrictions extended till May 17, students’ attendance in schools dwindles

LAHORE:

Following the instructions of the Cabinet Committee on Coronavirus, Punjab government has extended smart lockdown in the province till May 17 along with the imposition of controlled entry and exit in 15 localities of Lahore that have been declared hotspots of the virus.

According to a notification, there will be a complete ban on indoor marriage functions and other in all districts where the percentage of coronavirus infection is more than eight percent.

Under the extended lockdown, the already announced restrictions will be implemented till May 17. The restrictions will be implemented in all districts hit severely by coronavirus. The train services will continue with 70 percent occupancy. All business activities and markets will be shut at 6pm daily and for the entire day on Saturday and Sunday.

The areas of the provincial capital that have come under smart lockdown include Awan Town, PCSIR Society Phase 2, Guldasht Town, Ameeruddin Park, Paragon Executive Cottage, Imperial Garden, Green City A and C Blocks, Tajpura Scheme E Block, DHA Phase 3 XX Block, DHA Phase V H Block, Islampura, Sanda, Garden Town Abu Bakar Block and Model Town H Block.

The policy of 50 percent staff attendance will continue for offices, while all citizens are required to wear masks outside the home.

Punjab government has also suspended classes in schools in 15 districts and colleges in 25 districts, just one week after reopening schools in the province.

According to a notification issued by the Punjab School Education Department, the schools in Bahawalpur, Bhakar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad , Gujranwala , Jhang, Khanewal, Lahore, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rawalpindi , Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Okara and Toba Tek Singh have been shut.

The government also shut colleges in 25 districts, while academic activities in universities of the province are also suspended.

The administrations of educational institutions allowed to remain open in various districts of Punjab are facing problems in carrying out routine academic activities because of dwindling attendance of students amid the fear of coronavirus infection and uncertainty regarding the government policies regarding the sector.

The school administrators are reportedly finding it hard to persuade the parents to send their children to schools.

A large section of the parents prefer online classes in the current circumstances, saying they cannot put the lives of their children in danger.

Parents, students as well as teachers are demanding closure of schools at least till Eidul Fitr after seeing the alarming situation of coronavirus.

Teachers’ unions and students are also demanding postponement of matriculation and intermediate exams for a month.

Punjab higher education department announced on Saturday that the colleges in 25 districts of the province would be shut. In accordance with directives of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the intermediate classes will be suspended, while the universities would be allowed to operate as per the precautionary standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Punjab government reopened schools during the past week after a break of 36 days but the school education department remained helpless to persuade students to attend the classes.

“Over 1,000 students in Punjab’s schools have been affected by Covid-19 and we think it is a genuine concern. There are issues in connection with SOPs in schools,” said sources in the school education department.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2021.