QUETTA: The Balochistan government has allowed inter-provincial and inter-district public transport to resume in the province from Monday (today) after two and a half months of ‘smart lockdown’ under 18-point SOPs.

However, it warned that the public transport could be stopped again in the province if the SOPs were not followed.

The official notification issued on Sunday has allowed only inter-provincial and inter-district transport to resume. There was no word on inter-city transportation although transport associations have threatened to resume their services today (Monday).

According to the notification, SOPs issued by the provincial government, include the following: disinfection spray in vehicles before departure and arrival, buses and vans to provide hand sanitisers, passengers to be seated with one seat empty between them and transporters to keep a record of each passenger as well as check their temperature with a thermal scanner.

Passengers, bus drivers and bus conductors will wear face masks, only three passengers will be allowed in taxis, an 18-seat van will carry only 10 passengers, crowds will not be allowed at bus and wagon points, hand-washing facility will be made available at terminals and bus points, passengers will not be allowed inside terminals without face masks and passengers and conductors will have to maintain a distance of one metre.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2020