District admin planning to seal 22 localities in Pindi.

Byline: Aamir Yasin

RAWALPINDI -- The district administration on Tuesday prepared a plan to lockdown 22 localities, including 15 in the city and seven in the cantonment areas tomorrow (Thursday) after Rawalpindi reported 4,482 Covid-19 cases and 197 deaths in the last three months.

According to Punjab's official figures, 1,090 people tested positive for Covid-19 and 67 patients died in Rawalpindi district on Tuesday.

Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Anwarul Haq said that the massive rise in reported cases in the district was because private hospitals and laboratories shared their data on new cases and deaths in the last three to four days for the first time on Tuesday.

He said a combined list of new patients and deaths caused by Covid-19 will be issued every day, adding that the coronavirus is spreading because people are not following standard operating procedures (SOP).

Following the reports of new cases, the district administration has decided to lock down the city and cantonment areas on Thursday, following formal approval from the Punjab government.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that the administration has made a list of 15 city localities and seven cantonment localities that will be locked down.

The list has been sent to the provincial government for formal approval, and the areas will likely be sealed on Thursday after residents are given 24 hours to store food and other necessary items.

'The coronavirus is spread in all areas, but these areas are more affected so they will be locked down initially,' he said.

Another 200 beds will also be provided with oxygen facilities in Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) and the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU) in a day or two, he said.

'Oxygen needs to be provided to patients, as most of them arrive in hospitals with breathing difficulties. The government is providing oxygen to all hospitals without any delays,' he said.

Areas to be 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. In the cantonment, Dheri Hasanabad, Talli Mohri, Gousia Chowk, Jhawara, Tench Bhatta, People Colony and Allama Iqbal Colony will be sealed.

Joint check posts manned by police and Rangers have been set up in these localities and mohallah committees have been activated to facilitate residents, Mr Mehmood...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT