Closure of borders extended by two more weeks amid coronavirus crisis

• Borders shared with Afghanistan and Iran will remain closed till April 26.

National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) has directed the interior ministry to issue notifications for closure of borders for another two weeks with effect from date of expiry of previous notifications. 

Planning Minister Asad Umar chaired the NCOC meeting which was attended by Minister for Industries and Production Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan, Minister for Economic Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar along with chief ministers and other members.

The NCOC has recommended that western border with Afghanistan and Iran be closed till April 26. It also recommended that Wagah Border should remain closed from April 16 to April 29. Similarly, Kartarpur Corridor should remain closed till April  24, local media reported.

Discussing the stranded Pakistanis in various countries, the meeting said that it will take three months to bring back 1950 passengers. Seven international airports, except Sialkot, will be operating to bring back stranded Pakistani nationals.