Punjab govt. permits reopening of malls, public transport

Although Punjab remains the worst-hit province by the pandemic with 13,914 patients, still the government has decided to ease lockdown.

Punjab government on Friday decided to ease lockdown restrictions provincially after permitting to reopen shopping malls and resuming public transport system.

According to the details, the provincial government has also allowed automobile industries to work for seven days a week.

Punjab Industries and Trade Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal said that complete standard operating procedure (SOP) plan has been prepared that will be presented to Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar in a meeting.

The shopping malls’ owners should make it obligatory to use thermal gun checking, hand sanitizers and masks by all the customers, staffers and shopkeepers.

On the other hand, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other private airlines have also hinted at resuming the domestic flight operation before Eid-ul-Fitr. A schedule in this regard will be issued on May 16.

Reportedly, flight operations may be partially resumed at airports of Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar with only 50 percent passengers allowed on board.

The development came after Pakistan reported 803 deaths and 37,218 cases from Coronavirus outbreak.

Moreover, The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announces to extend international flight operations till May 31 as per the government’s directions.

In a tweet on Friday, CAA stated: “As per the decision of the GoP, the suspension of International flight operations as effected earlier has been extended upto Sunday, May 31, 2020 at 2359 hours PST. Remaining provisions as applicable to the suspension of Int flights reflected in previous orders remain unchanged.”