Nationwide lockdown enters 2nd week tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: The country will be entering the second week of nationwide lockdown tomorrow (Monday) announced by DG Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) in the wake of coronavirus breakout.

The lockdown is likely to ease out on the expiry of April 7 deadline, provided it is strictly adhered to by the people.

Well-placed sources told The News/Jang on Saturday that the final decision will be taken in a high echelon meeting to be held two days before the deadline. The meeting will also be attended by public health experts, civil and military leadership. The departments and outfits concerned have been asked to submit detailed situation reports during the meeting.

Meanwhile, the opposition in the National Assembly has decided to withdraw its requisition for convening a session to discuss the coronavirus. The requisition was submitted last week. With this, the relaxation period for the staff of Parliament House for staying home has been extended till April 5. Earlier the deadline was March 31.

Well-placed parliamentary sources pointed out that the inaugural meeting of the special joint Parliamentary Committee under the speaker National Assembly was being convened on Monday to take stock of the coronavirus situation. It will be a video conference where the government will submit report on the ground situation.

The opposition, which will be having its effective representation in the committee, will raise the question of delayed action by the government of lockdown and government failure in checking the pilgrims crossing the border from Taftan in the maiden meeting.

The 25-member joint committee will represent Parliament of which a session couldn’t convened due to the emergency situation.

Sub-committees will also be constituted in the first meeting to look into various aspects of the corona breakout and relevant issues.

The committee will again be having its meeting just before the reaching deadline for lockdown in first week of next month, the sources added.