Rawalpindi : The COVID-19 failed to deter dwellers of twin cities and suburbs from adjacent areas to visit recreational spots and hill stations during Eidul Fitr in wake of coronavirus pandemic.
Ahead of Eidul Fitr, city district administration of Islamabad and police from twin cities has inked out special plan for traffic as well as complete lockdown of recreational spots in the twin cities. All parks in Rawalpindi and Islamabad were closed in wake of Eidul Fitr following rising suspects of coronavirus pandemic.
Rawalpindi and ICT police has devised special plan with deployment of additional police staff to restrict public movement during two days of Eidul Fitr with deployment of police officials at public parks in the twin cities.
On other side, public from adjacent areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad demonstrate insensitivity to lockdown directives of the government and comes to roads in mammoth numbers on second day of Eidul Fitr.
Expressway leading to Murree on second day of Eidul Fitr choked with bumper to bumper long queues of public vehicles to get snail in Murree and Galiyat. Police remain very vigilant and keep on instructing all public vehicles to take u-turn back to Rawalpindi and Islamabad from Expressway toll plaza as all public movement in Murree was banned ahead of Eidul Fitr by government in wake of coronavirus pandemic.
There were hundreds of instances, when public violating directives of the government came out on roads in bid to move towards hilly stations. Around 2000 police officials were specifically deputed for duty during Eidul Fitr holidays in twin cities with strict orders to restrict unnecessary public movement on Eidul Fitr.
In this regard, special police pickets were also established to contain public movement.
All hotels, restaurant and shopping malls were closed on the eve of Eidul Fitr in twin cities as COVID-19 cases are reportedly on rise in the twin cities after lifting smart lockdown during the month of Ramazan.
Farhan Dogar, a resident of Chakwal said we were fed up of prevailing lockdown scenario and we had come to Islamabad on second day of Eid to have some recreation but all public places are closed here. He said public wanted to move ahead to Galiyat and northern areas but police is very strict this time.
On other side, roads leading to other hilly areas passing through Rawalpindi and Islamabad remained choked with long queues of vehicles as police on all service roads remain vigilant to keep check on unnecessary public movement and vehicles with local people were allow to move towards Rawalakot, Muzaffarabad, Mansehra and Swat.
Long queues of vehicles were seen on roads leading to Swat and Balakot but police personnel did not allow visitors to go ahead on account of coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
It is also worth mentioning here that after moon sighting on Saturday night, hundreds of thousands people thronged markets and commercial areas in twin cities and police had to take strict action to disperse public to ensure social distancing in wake of COVID-19.
Dr. Zubair, senior medicine specialist said that on the eve of Eidul Fitr public demonstrate least interest in pursuing SOPs and preventive measures against Coronavirus pandemic and there could be chances of alarming surge in Coronavirus suspects after this COVID-Eid.