4 more areas of Lahore locked down from midnight.

Byline: Asif Chaudhry

LAHORE -- The Punjab government ordered the police to lock down 4 more areas of the city partially and completely from Wednesday midnight.

The decision may cause a great deal of inconvenience to almost half of the population of the city in terms of movement and routine life. The regions approved for lockdown also included six densely populated areas, including the entire Defence Housing Authority, Johar Town, Gulberg, Model Town, Garden Town, Faisal Town and Askari . Similarly, the entire Walled City will also be locked down, including Tibbi City, Rang Mahal, Masti Gate, Mochi Gate, Lohari Gate, Bhati Gate, Yakki Gate and Akbari Gate.

The decision was taken after these areas reported a large number of Covid-9 cases.

The health and district authorities had finalised the list of the areas and recommended them to the government for a lockdown.

Entire DHA, Johar Town, Gulberg, Model Town, Garden Town, Faisal Town, Askari , Walled City among areas closed

A senior policeman told Dawn that 25 points had been identified to close down these areas where pickets would be set up manned by 5, policemen to implement 'wheel jam' - check on people's movement. Only certain categories of people would be allowed to move, including judicial officers, law enforcement personnel, doctors, journalists, patients going to hospitals. All businesses in these areas would be closed, while joint checkposts of police and Rangers would be set up at some of these 25 points, he added.

During a high-level meeting on Wednesday, many areas of Mianwali and Sargodha were also discussed in the context of a lockdown, an official privy to the information told Dawn. However, he said, the meeting remained inconclusive about these cities.

The focus was shifted to Lahore being the highest risk city for Covid-9. According to official figures, Lahore has so far reported 58 deaths and 34,82 confirmed cases of the virus.

The meeting gave a go-ahead to the police to impose smart lockdown on the new localities...