Govt extends countrywide 'lockdown' by two weeks.

ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday decided to extend the restrictions already imposed to prevent spread of coronavirus in the country for another two weeks, up to April 14.

"All units of the country including federal government, and governments of all four provinces, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir have jointly decided that the current level of lockdown should continue for another two weeks," Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said at a press briefing along with Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Security Division Moeed Yusuf here after a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC). However, he said, in the meantime, the NCC will keep on monitoring the situation closely and the decision can be revised by either reducing restrictions and period or increasing the restrictions depending on the pace of spread of the virus.

Expressing satisfaction over slow pace of spread of the virus, the minister said that the government's strategy of imposing current level of restrictions has yielded positive results. "Therefore, we do not need any further restrictions to be imposed at the current stage," he added. He said the services and industries producing eatables, energy and medicines will be kept open to ensure proper production and supply of the essential items. He said except for some complaints from some areas of the country, all the provinces are fully implementing the decisions of the NCC.

With respect to repatriation of Pakistanis abroad, the minister said the government has decided to run first flight of Pakistan International Airline on April 4, which would carry Pakistani passengers who want to return back to the country. "Passengers will be tested and they will be kept in quarantine facility till the results are received," he said, referring to the government's aim to resume flight operations. "If they test negative, then we will ask them for self-quarantine and take necessary precautionary measures," he said. "On April 5, we will review this measure of bringing people from abroad, if it is successful, then the flights will be started in different airports of the country. However, domestic flights will remain suspended until further orders," he added.

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