Adviser defends decision to extend holidays

PESHAWAR: Adviser to Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations Ajmal Wazir said on Tuesday the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had announced general holidays from 24 to March 28 to prevent the possible spread of the coronavirus.

Addressing the media persons via a video link, he clarified that this would not apply to mandatory service departments including health, police, district administration, and secretariat departments.

Ajmal Wazir said the government had extended the week-long ban on inter-city transport which was earlier banned from March 22 to 24.

However, he said, after a week’s extension, there would be no inter-district vehicular movement till March 29.

He said that KP government had banned public transport within the districts till March 29 and a notification has been.

The adviser said his government knew about the hardships being faced by the people due to the stoppage of public transport. However, he said that the decision was taken to check the spread of the deadly virus.

It was unnecessary to take tough decisions to protect the lives of the people and to prevent the spread of this pandemic, Ajmal Wazir argued.

He added that the chief minister was monitoring the situation.

Ajmal Wazir visited the Command and Control Centre in the office of the Deputy Commissioner Peshawar and reviewed the steps taken so far.

He said that Chief Minister Mahmood Khan also visited Quarantine Center in Dauranpur in Peshawar near Peshawar Motorway Interchange and expressed satisfaction over the arrangements.