Centre suggests extension of 'smart lockdown' in Karachi.

Byline: Imran Ayub

KARACHI -- As the Sindh government extended province-wide lockdown for another 15 days, it remains undecided so far about whether to extend or lift the 'smart lockdown' enforced for a fortnight in Covid-19 hotspots in the city that ends at midnight today (the night between Thursday and Friday).

But federal authorities believe the provincial government should continue the same policy as unlike other parts of the country Sindh has not yet shown any stability and it needs to follow the same strategy to achieve desired results.

The suggestion came from the top when a key figure of the federal government, who is responsible for policymaking and executing the strategy in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, while referring to the recent data and numbers saw the Covid-19 situation in the country stabilising, but warned any 'mistake' or 'relaxation' showed by the people and the administration could cause major damage.

'We have seen positive trend and received positive feedback from three provinces - Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan - as well as Gilgit-Baltistan,' Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar told Dawn on Wednesday when asked about his suggestion and findings about the strategy of the smart lockdown.

Asad Umar says Covid-19 situation in Sindh 'not so encouraging'

'But unfortunately, we have not seen such a trend in Sindh. Whether it's number of patients or ratio of positive cases among the tests being held daily, the trend is not so encouraging,' he said.

'So I think and suggest that the smart lockdown should continue. But let me make it very clear. We at the centre only identify the areas and suggest the guidelines for better results. The decision regarding any policy and then its execution is totally up to the provincial governments,' Mr Umar said.

The Sindh government on June 18 imposed a lockdown in several parts of Karachi following many such measures in other districts of Sindh after the federal government identified 20 potential Covid-19 hotspots where restrictive measures were needed to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The move came after the local administration...

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