KARACHI – Pakistan on Tuesday announced another two-week extension in an ongoing lockdown following rising numbers of coronavirus cases in the country.
Prime Minister Imran said, “we, after consulting all the provinces, have decided that the ongoing lockdown will continue until April 30,” Khan told a news conference in the capital Islamabad.
The PM the government had decided to reopen several “low-risk” industries, including construction, agriculture, e-commerce, paper and packaging, and others to resume the business activities and to stem a deepening economic meltdown caused by the coronavirus crisis.
“I totally understand the hardships being faced by the poor due to the lockdown. That’s why we have decided to move forward with a policy, which can not only ensure social distancing but also reduce the economic burden on the low-income class,” he went on to say.
Khan also directed the authorities to ensure the smooth harvesting of wheat, the country’s main crop, which has commenced this week. There would be no ban on the movement of machinery and labor for wheat harvesting.
“The number of coronavirus cases and deaths are way lesser than our projections due to the lockdown,” Khan said, adding the COVID-19 cases and the deaths were 30% and 50% respectively of the government’s projected numbers.
On the other hand, traders, however, rejected the extension and announced to resume their businesses from Wednesday.
In Karachi, the country’s commercial capital, the city’s traders alliance also announced the reopening of businesses from Wednesday.
The number of novel coronavirus cases in Pakistan has risen to 5,716 with 100 deaths so far.
