Lockdown eased, industries and businesses partially restored

ISLAMABAD: The government has extended the prevailing lockdown for another two weeks with some essential industries being allowed to reopen.

Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the decision, on Tuesday, after chairing a National Coordination Committee (NCC) meeting, which was attended by the chief ministers of all provinces. In the meeting, they decided to ease the virus lockdown and allow limited economic activity in the country to mitigate the impact of an economic crisis.

The decision by the government to open certain workplaces came on the day when the death toll from COVID-19 touched 100.

Sindh and Punjab authorities issued notifications regarding the extension of the lockdown but business has been partially restored in various cities of the country. Under the Sindh Home Department notification, people belonging to different departments in Lockdown will be allowed to open businesses from today.

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Proper standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been announced for such industries and businesses as they re-open.

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The sectors and industries granted exemption and will open up after this announcement include the construction industry (cement shops, bricks kilns, crushing plants, bitumen and prefabricated construction materials), the chemical industry and manufacturing plants.

Furthermore, the industries that will be operational include fertilizer plants, mines and minerals, laundry services, agriculture machinery/equipment manufacturing plants, glass manufacturing, veterinary services, stationary and book dealers and all export industries provided their export orders are approved by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.

E-commerce for export, e-commerce for local deliveries of necessary items, software development and programming, paper and packaging units and plants nurseries will also start from today.

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The notification says that the spread of COVID-19 has still not vanished and that the opening up of businesses is subject to strict adherence to the SOPs.

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The SOPs relate to general working of the above businesses, social distancing among the employees, workplace cleanliness and regulations related to visitors and customers. Moreover, transportation of human resource, goods’ transportation and related matters to minimize the risk of the COVID-19 spread are also mentioned in the notification.

It is to be noted that the Federal Government has extended the nationwide lockdown for another two weeks until April 30. Schools, colleges, playgrounds, cinemas and all public places will remain closed while some sectors have been allowed to operate in the meantime.

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