Educational, tourist activities resume in several districts as Covid restrictions ease

Restrictions remain imposed in Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Sindh

ISLAMABAD:

Educational and tourist activities were restored in several parts of the country on Monday following the National Command and Operation Centre's (NCOC) fresh directives to ease restrictions imposed in view of the Covid situation.

In light of the NCOC's directives, educational and tourism-related activities were restored in 16 districts of Punjab, 21 of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and all districts of Balochistan, except Quetta, with strict adherence to SOPs.

However, restrictions continue to be imposed in Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Sindh.

On May 19, after reviewing the Covid situation in the country, the NCOC announced reopening outdoor restaurants, educational institutions and other sectors in districts where the positivity ratio was less than five per cent.

According to the command centre, educational institutes in districts where the positivity ratio is below five per cent have been reopened. Those that have not yet been reopened will resume activities from June 7, while Matric and Intermediate exams will be held after June 20, it added.

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The NCOC further stated that outdoor restaurants in the said areas will remain open until 12am, while takeaway will be available 24 hours a day.

The tourism sector has also been reopened with complete adherence to the precautionary measures.

The authority will review the situation on May 27, wherein it will decide whether to allow marriages in open spaces from June 1. However, the number of guests at events will remain limited to 150.

On May 19, amid signs of ease in the third wave of coronavirus pandemic, the government rolled back restrictions to keep in check the usual hustle and bustle during the Eidul Fitr celebrations last week.

The NCOC, the centre that supervises the government’s strategy against the pandemic's spread, allowed reopening of educational institutions in Covid-safe zones as well as increased business hours from next week (this week).