ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan stated that the National Coordination Committee on Covid-19 (NCOC) has decided to allow shops across the country to stay open 5 days a week.

“There will be a complete lockdown on Saturdays and Sundays,” PM said while addressing a briefing after NCOC meeting here today. The premier said that the lockdown was imposed in order to mitigate the spread of coronavirus in the country.

“Imposing a partial lockdown was to stop the spread of this pandemic. But let me tell you that this is just a precaution, not the solution for the virus,” he said, adding that the purpose behind imposing restrictions was to lessen the burden on the hospitals.

Talking about resuming the small businesses, PM Khan said that the shops would be allowed to stay open till 7PM and would be directed to follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): “We have decided to allow shops to stay open till 7PM during lockdown. All those shops who would do business would be directed to follow SOPs.”

While announcing easing the restrictions the PM appealed: “I want to request all of you to follow the SOPs we have outlined to prevent the spread of this virus. If we don’t take precautions then we will continue to suffer…

“The world has agreed, the richest countries have come to the conclusion that the virus will spread no matter what. Nothing can be done about it. The virus will spread and our death toll will also rise … I told you that from day one,” PM maintained. 

PM, pointing out that the country was facing a different situation than US, Europe and China, claimed that fifty million Pakistanis were living under the poverty line and were not able to afford three square meals.

He further stated that 25 million people in Pakistan were daily wagers who must earn daily in order to survive.

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