Preventive Measures.

The decision of the Punjab government to extend the smart lockdown in Lahore till mid-July was needed, as new cases are still surfacing. As Lahore makes the most significant and most critical hotspot area in Punjab, the government had no choice but to make stricter arrangements in certain areas of Lahore. However, the need is to ensure that the smart lockdown is more effective. The officials must learn from the weaknesses and faults that were experienced when this idea was implemented for the first time.

The strategy can prove useful in flattening the curve provided it is properly enforced. And the most critical factor in stricter implementation will be inter-departmental coordination. A well-coordinated smart lockdown is the only way forward. Effective hotspot lockdown can make a decisive difference. The government must closely monitor the data of the cases, as it will keep the officials informed about the ground realities. It would have also been wise to extend this policy across other hotspot towns in Punjab as well. Perhaps that will come at a later stage. Since eight out of...