ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government announced on Thursday that prayer attendance at mosques would be restricted to a “few people,” while all educational institutions will remain closed until May 31 in a move to slow the spread of coronavirus.
“Friday prayers and other prayers across the country will remain limited to a few people only. Mosques will not be closed, but congregations will remain limited to a few healthy people,” Religious Affairs Minister Pir Noor-ul-Haq Qadri said at a press conference in Islamabad, following a National Coordination Committee (NCC) meeting that was presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan and attended by all four provincial chief ministers, senior cabinet ministers and military leadership.
“We are doing all this to prevent spread of the virus,” Minister Qadri said, adding that President Arif Alvi had helped in reaching a consensus among religious leaders on the mosque prayers restriction.
While announcing the extension of school closures from April 5 to May 31, Planning Minister Asad Umar also said that transportation limitations will be reviewed on Friday, as movement of heavy vehicles is necessary to ensure food supplies.
“There is no wheat or flour shortage in the country, enough stocks are available,” he assured the public, “The government won’t allow any hoarding, and the state will move with full force against hoarders.”
The prime minister's special assistant on public health, Dr. Zafar Mirza, said the government would provide personal protection equipment (PPE) to all health workers by April 5, while 30,000 of them will get the protective gear by Sunday.
“We are trying our best to ensure safety of our health workers,” he said.
Pakistan has 194,000 health practitioners, 30,000 of whom work in intensive care units.
Also during the NCC meeting, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt. Gen. Muhammad Afzal said the government has established 162,000 quarantine beds across the country, including at three and four-star hotels.
The government wants to increase the number of ventilators at hospitals from the current 2,200 to 10,000 by May, he said, adding that disinfection was underway in the places where big numbers of coronavirus cases have been reported.
Pakistan had 1,118 known cases of the coronavirus with eight fatalities as of Thursday. The first case was recorded on Feb. 20.
A host of measures to contain the outbreak have been taken by the government, including the suspension of air travel, partial lockdowns of cities, and establishment of large quarantine centers.
Pakistan restricts mosque prayers in virus precaution
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Pakistan restricts mosque prayers in virus precaution
- 30,000 health workers to be provided with protective gear by Sunday
- Disinfection underway in cities where big numbers of coronavirus cases have been reported — NDMA
Pakistan announces four-day work week among steps to offset impact of Middle East crisis
- The development comes as ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran disrupt oil supplies in Strait of Hormuz, push prices past $119 a barrel
- Islamabad bans government purchases, cuts fuel allocation for vehicles as well as workforce in public and private offices by 50 percent
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced austerity measures, including a four-day work week, cuts in government expenditures and closure of schools, to offset the impact of rising global oil prices due to an ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Global fuel supply lines have been disrupted in the Strait of Hormuz, which supplies nearly a fourth of world oil consumption, after Tehran blocked it following United States-Israeli strikes on Iran and counterattacks against US interests in the Gulf region.
Oil prices surged more than 25 percent globally on Monday to $119.50 a barrel, the highest levels since mid-2022, as some major producers cut supplies and fears of prolonged shipping disruptions gripped the market due to the expanding US-Israeli war with Iran.
In his televised address on Sunday night, Sharif said global oil prices were expected to rise again in the coming days but vowed not to let the people bear their brunt, announcing austerity measures to lessen the impact of fuel price hikes.
“Fifty percent staff in public and private entities will work from home,” he announced, adding this would not be applicable to essential services. “Offices will remain open for four days a week. One-day additional off is being given to conserve oil, but it would not be applicable to banks.”
Sharif didn’t specify working days of the week and the government was likely to issue a notification in this regard.
He said a decrease of 50 percent was being made in fuel allocation for government vehicles immediately for the next two months, but they would not include ambulances and public buses.
“Cabinet members, advisers and special assistants will not draw salaries for the next two months, 25 percent salaries of parliamentarians are being deducted, two-day salaries of Grade 20 and above officers, or those who are paid Rs300,000 ($1,067) a month, are being deducted for public relief,” he said.
Similarly, there will be 20 percent reduction in public department expenses and a complete ban on the purchase of cars, furniture, air conditioners and other goods, according to the prime minister.
Foreign trips of ministers and other government officials will also be banned along with government dinners and iftar buffets, while teleconferences and online meetings will be given priority.
“All schools will be off for two weeks, starting from the end of this week, and all higher education institutions should immediately begin online classes,” he said.
Sharif’s comments were aired hours after Pakistani authorities said the country had “comfortable levels” of petroleum stocks and the supply chains were functioning smoothly, despite intensifying Middle East conflict.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said three oil shipments were due to reach Pakistan this week, state media reported.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Navy (PN) launched ‘Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr’ to safeguard national energy shipments, the Pakistani military said on Monday, amid disruptions to critical sea lanes due to the conflict.
The navy is conducting escort operations in close coordination with the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing. It is fully cognizant of the prevailing maritime situation and is actively monitoring and controlling the movement of merchant vessels to ensure their safe and secure transit.
“With approximately 90 percent of Pakistan’s trade conducted via sea, the operation aims to ensure that vital sea routes remain safe, secure, and uninterrupted,” the ISPR said on Monday. “Currently, PN ships are escorting 2 x Merchant Vessels, one of which is scheduled to arrive Karachi today.”
