Covid: Pakistan imposes stricter curbs; PM warns of lockdown in cities

Islamabad - Imran Khan says major cities would be closed down if the situation continued to deteriorate

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday urged the people to strictly follow the Covid-19 guidelines, warning that a nationwide lockdown will be imposed if the spiralling coronavirus crisis continues to worsen. Addressing the nation after chairing a meeting of the National Coordination Committee, the highest national forum to tackle the pandemic, Khan said the Army has been asked to help police to implement the social-distancing guidelines in the country to contain the spread of coronavirus.

“I am appealing to you to follow SoPs so that we don’t have to take steps that India is taking which means imposing lockdowns,” he said, adding that half the problem will be solved if people started wearing face masks.

Khan, who was himself affected by the disease last month, warned that major cities would be closed down if the situation continued to deteriorate.

“If our circumstances become the same as India, then we will have to close down cities,” he said.

The prime minister said his government was trying to avoid the lockdowns as it hurts the poor the most, but the situation could change if the pandemic persisted.

“If we (as a nation) don’t take precautionary measures, we will have to impose a lockdown which will also affect our economy at a time when it is on the rise,” he said and urged the people to follow the SoPs as they did during Ramadan last year.