Society and lockdown.

Byline: Zaighum Pasha - Islamabad

IN Pakistan, one of the important factors putting pressure on the lockdown are the country's strong social ties and traditions which pose major hurdles to restrictions on social and physical contacts. Although the government has managed to lockdown cities on a large scale, the rural population is still living a normal life. Therefore the risk of spreading the coronavirus is high and can cause damage on a large scale.

Funerals are occasions at which everyone's participation is a must, less for religious and more for social and cultural reasons.

Similarly, if a politician fails to attend someone's last rites in his constituency, he runs the risk of losing a lot of votes. Weddings and other big events are already banned but people are still organising parties and inviting people to participate.

Eidul Fitr, which will fall in the last days of May, could pose another challenge for Pakistani officials to limit social interaction. It will be...