Lockdown extended to save lives of people: Murad

Chief Minister of Sindh Murad Ali Shah on Thursday said that the provincial authorities have extended the lockdown to save the lives of people from deadly coroanvirus.

Addressing a press conference during his Sukkur visit, the Chief Minister said that cases have dropped due to low frequency of coronavirus tests. Food items for majority of ration bags were taken from utility stores, he told.

Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had ordered to further tighten the coronavirus lockdown in the province.

He expressed concern over increasing cases of the pandemic in Sindh while addressing a press conference and said pillion riding is not allowed along with three to four children on motorbikes.

"The government is not allowing to open the automobile industry. Construction sector and other departments will be opened as per the standard operating procedures (SOPs)," he added.

"The builders will provide all labor and construction details and seek permission from the authorities before starting their work. Action will be taken against the violators," the minister said.

"Further steps are needed to be taken to counter the epidemic and it would be wrong if we claim that situation in Pakistan is better than other countries. The virus in Pakistan is as dangerous as in other countries," CM Murad stated.

Earlier, Murad Ali Shah has reached Sukkur to review the lockdown situation in the city. He himself drove the car and visited different areas of the city capital to review the measures taken for lockdown.

During the visit, Murad Ali Shah urged citizens to follow social distancing guidelines. He also chaired a meeting in Sukkur on coronavirus situation.

It must be noted that almost all coronavirus patients at the Sukkur quarantine facility have recovered and been discharged after they tested negative twice.

Overall 6600 people have been arrested in the Sindh province so far over violation of the coronavirus lockdown. According to details, 47 people were arrested from Sukkur and 43 from Larkana and nine and seven cases registered against them respectively.

Karachi remained third on the list of arrests today as only 25 people were nabbed from the city and booked in 13 cases over violating section 144. Seven people were arrested from Hyderabad with four cases registered against them.

One person each was arrested from Mirpurkhas and Benazirabad areas and were booked for violating lockdown restrictions.

It may be noted that Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday said that strict lockdown will continue across the province for another two weeks in order to control the spread of coronavirus cases.