Capital heading towards gradual lockdown

The federal capital was heading towards a gradual lockdown on Monday night after the Interior Ministry notified the troop's deployment of Pakistan Army across Pakistan including the four provinces and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) in connection with the alarming spread of coronavirus.
Corresponding to this development, Bharakahu, a suburban area in Islamabad, was completely sealed by Monday night with its entry and exit points blocked for any kind of travel amidst the reports that 11 to 13 coronavirus cases had surfaced in Bharakahu, mostly among the members of a religious group. Following this move, all the mosques and seminaries in Bharakahu were sealed for the next two weeks, the reports suggested.
In the main city of Islamabad, scores of the shops in the major markets including Aabpara, Karachi Company, Peshawar Mor, F-6 and F-7 remained closed but several shops remained opened as well. However, most of the shops were closed after the issuance of the Interior Ministry's notification regarding Pakistan Army troops' deployment.
Contrary to the major markets, the situation in the smaller markets located in the different sectors of Islamabad including G-7, G-8, I-8, I-9, I-10 and other areas were different as smaller markets mainly remained opened. But the situation in the markets also changed by Monday evening with barber shops, tailor shops, hotels, restaurants as well as makeshift food stalls closed for any kind of business activity.
With March 23 being a national holiday in connection with Pakistan Day, the roads of the federal capital mainly wore a deserted look as a visible reduced number of the people took to roads for traveling purposes and the residents of the Islamabad mainly remained indoors.
In addition, the city of Rawalpindi gave the look of a virtual lockdown since Sunday with all the markets, roads, hotels, restaurants and even the makeshift stalls practically closed in line with the stringent measures taken by the Punjab government as precautionary arrangements against coronavirus. It was witnessed that major markets like Commercial Market, Raja Bazaar, and Pandora as well as several other smaller markets were closed.
Meanwhile, the Metro Bus Service from Rawalpindi to Islamabad and vice versa was also closed for any kind of public traveling. The troops of Police, Rangers and Pakistan Army were seen patrolling on the roads of the twin cities; Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Some shopkeepers were also arrested from different parts of Islamabad for defying government instructions and opening their shops, it is learnt. Only the grocery stores, dairy shops, bakeries and related outlets of edible items were allowed to remain open.
Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Imran Khan, during his address to the nation, had ruled out the possibility of locking down the entire country. However, with the deployment of the Pakistan Army troops across Pakistan, AJK and GB, the reports were rife that a lockdown was imminent in the backdrop of surging number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan.
Requesting anonymity, a federal cabinet member told Business Recorder that the federal government was considering the policy of an 'undeclared' lockdown in the country in order to avoid panic and fear among the public.
"Too much disinformation regarding coronavirus has already caused panic and chaos in public. If the PM announces a lockdown across the country, this would further contribute to worsening the situation. An undeclared lockdown is, therefore, on the cards," the source said. The number of coronavirus cases in the country was recorded at 875, with six confirmed deaths, till the filing of this report on Monday night.