RAWALPINDI: A total of 22 localities in the city and cantonment areas were sealed early on Thursday by the Punjab government due to the high number of Covid-19 cases reported there. They will remain sealed until June 30.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that 30,978 families were restricted to 21,420 houses in these localities when the lockdown went into force early on Thursday.

He said the government has decided to lockdown areas that are emerging as coronavirus hotspots in light of directions to this effect from the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC). The Punjab Home Department issued a notification in this regard late Wednesday night, after which people were stopped from entering the sealed areas. The lockdown will remain in place until 9pm on June 30.

The district administration identified hotspots using patient data from government and private hospitals and laboratories.

The areas locked down in the city are Dhoke Kala Khan, Qayyumabad, Iqbal Town, Dhoke Paracha, Dhoke Kashmirian, Kuri Road, Aliabad, Dhoke Ali Akbar, Sadiqabad, Magistrate Colony, Afandi Colony, Satellite Town Block A and C, Muslim Town and Khurram Colony, while Dheri Hasanabad, Talli Mohri, Gousia Chowk, Jhawara, Tench Bhatta, People Colony and Allama Iqbal Colony are sealed in the cantonment.

Commissioner says 30,978 families restricted to 21,420 houses in these localities

Mr Mehmood said the government has directed the administration to ensure that essential commodities are available and that citizens are able to access medical facilities during the lockdown.

Joint check posts manned by police and Rangers have been set up and mohallah committees activated to facilitate residents, he added.

“Grocery stores, milk shops, pharmacies, fruit and vegetables vendors and tandoors are allowed to open their shops and delivered food item at home,” he said. Vendors and shopkeepers in these businesses have been issued permission letters to visit fruit, vegetable and grain markets to keep the supply of essential items uninterrupted.

District health authority medical staff have been deployed at facilitation centres - which have been established at local government schools - in three shifts in the case of an emergency.

Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Anwarul Haq told Dawn that the district government has made arrangements to supply food and medicines in these areas.

He said people working in private and government offices are still allowed to go to work, but the entry of outsiders is prohibited. People have been asked not to leave their homes unnecessarily, and only one person from a family may visit markets for groceries while complying with all standard operating procedures (SOP).

Police deployed

A total of 300 police officials have been deployed at 18 check posts in Sadiqabad to implement the government’s ‘smart lockdown’.

Police contingents on Thursday were deployed in Sadiqabad, R.A Bazar, Morgah and Dehri Hassanabad after a noticeable increase in the number of Covid-19 reported there.

Following instructions from City Police Officer Mohammad Ahsan Younas, a heavy contingent of police was deployed at the points of exit and entry into the restricted areas, while army and Rangers will be on standby. The police deployment was inspected by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Tariq Walayat, SSP Investigation Faisal Kamran and Rawal Division Superintendent of Police Rai Mazhar.

Police said they have been checking every individual entering the locked down areas.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2020