The Special Assistant to Punjab Chief Minister on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Monday that the Punjab government is considering over placing a complete ban on wedding halls and sports activities in the province for two weeks.
“A proposal for a complete ban on wedding halls and sports for two weeks is under consideration,” she said. Punjab government’s priority is people’s lives rather than such events.
The SAPM added that the coronavirus is not only Punjab’s issue, but that all provinces are affected by it. No government can deal with the problem alone, noted Firdous Ashiq Awan.
Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the government will limit activities that will not affect the economy.
Earlier this month, Punjab government had re-impose several restrictions in different districts of the province after coronavirus cases started to going up again in Punjab.
According to the notifications issued by the Government of Punjab; all commercial activities, establishments and markets will close by 6 pm on weekdays and completely closed on Fridays and Saturdays.
This excludes medical services, general stores, bakeries, milk and meat shops, tire puncture shops, fruit and vegetable shops, tandoors, petrol pumps, oil depots, LPG outlets and filing plants, agriculture machinery workshops and spare parts shops, printing press, call centers, with 50% staff and no public dealing. Takeaway and home delivery from restaurants will remain open.
Wedding halls have been closed in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Gujrat since March 15.
Government has allowed only outdoor weddings with a maximum of 300 guests. There is a complete ban on indoor and outdoor dining in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Gujrat and only takeaway/ home delivery will be allowed in these cities.
Parks will close at 6 pm. Offices are to follow a 50% work from home policy and Cinemas and shrines will stay closed strictly. Large gatherings indoors have been banned. Outdoor gatherings (other than weddings) are allowed with a maximum of 50 people in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Gujrat and 300 persons in the rest of the province for a maximum of two hours.
Sports and all cultural activities will remain banned. Industrial activities and establishments are exempt from these restrictions.
