After observing that a large number of people are not following the protocols of social distancing and violating section-144, the Punjab government on Sunday imposed a ban on all kinds of philanthropic activities across the province.
Punjab Relief Commissioner Babar Hayat Tarar while talking to the media said that the mobility of people is being witnessed across the country despite imposition of the lockdown. "People are not following directives of social distancing and violating section-144," he said, adding that any individual or organization for now on would have to seek permission of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) before offering any kind service to anyone or suspected Covid-19 patients.
According to a notification issued here on Sunday, the philanthropic activity by any individual, organization or any other entity in Punjab shall be routed through the PDMA which shall organize the same under standards and protocols set by the Punjab government.
"If any individual, organization or any other entity, who/which intends to undertake philanthropic activity on its own, shall submit an application to the deputy commissioner in whose jurisdiction the philanthropic activity is proposed. The deputy commissioner shall determine the mode, mechanism, area and extent of the philanthropic activity with appropriate checks for conformity with the government guidelines regarding Covid-19, under intimation to the PDMA," the notification reads.
It adds that any person who fails to comply with the aforesaid order shall be liable to criminal proceedings under section-6 of The Punjab National Calamities (Prevention and Relief) Act, 1958, read with section 188 of The Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The offences in violation of this order shall be cognizable and shall be tried in accordance with the procedure for summary trials under Code for Criminal Procedure 1898. This order shall remain in force in the entire province of Punjab with effect from 5th April, 2020 until further orders, it concludes.