No complete lockdown during fourth corona wave: Asad

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said Thursday that the government would not impose complete lockdown during the 4th wave of the coronavirus pandemic, which he feared would start in the current month of July. The minister said the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), through a letter, informed the Kashmir Election Commission about violation of coronavirus SOPs during the ongoing election campaigns.

He said that during the past waves of coronavirus, the government’s strategy to handle the pandemic and overcome its after-effects had been very successful and the country was placed among the best three performing countries by the Economist’s Normalcy Index for handling it.

Addressing an oath taking ceremony of newly appointed members of National Youth Council (NYC), the minister urged the people to keep on following the Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) and vaccinate themselves to cope with 4th wave in an effective manner.

The minister, however, added that in case the ratio of positive cases goes up, the government would opt for smart lockdown as was done during the past phase. Meanwhile, Asad Umar appreciated the effort of SAPM on Youth Affairs, Usman Dar and congratulated the newly elected members of NYC.