KARACHI: Authorities in Pakistan’s commercial capital, Karachi, enforced strict lockdowns in different neighborhoods that were designated by them as COVID-19 hotspots to reduce the spread of virus and decrease the alarming rate of infection in the city, a senior official confirmed while talking to Arab News on Thursday
“We enforced smart lockdowns in all the notified areas from 7 pm today,” Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shalwani informed. “The restrictions have been placed for two weeks and will hopefully slow down the virus spread.”
Explaining the administrative approach further, he said: “These areas were selected on the basis of numerical data. We identified them due to the high number of coronavirus cases and may add more residential neighborhoods to our list if infections increase in other parts of the city.”
The commissioner maintained that if COVID-19 carriers were currently spreading the virus to ten people, smart lockdowns would reduce it to four -- thereby significantly bringing down the rate of infection.
According to an official notification about the imposition of smart lockdowns in the city, the movement of people residing in the coronavirus hotspots will be strictly restricted, and anyone entering or exiting these areas will be required to wear a mask without exception.
The notification also maintains that all industrial units in locked down areas will remain close.
The authorities have only allowed grocery stores and pharmacies to operate in these neighborhoods, and only one person from each household will be able to visit the shops.
Apart from that, residents of these areas will not be allowed to order food from restaurants since home delivery will not be an option for them during the lockdown period.
Pakistan reported more than 160,000 coronavirus cases on Thursday morning. According to an official handout circulated by the provincial administration of Sindh in the evening, the country’s most densely populated city of Karachi reported 1,719 new COVID-19 cases during the day with 44 related deaths.
'Smart lockdown' imposed in Karachi's COVID-19 hotspots to curb virus spread
https://arab.news/ghpmk
'Smart lockdown' imposed in Karachi's COVID-19 hotspots to curb virus spread
- The coronavirus hotspots in the city were identified on the basis of numerical data, says the commissioner
- Karachi reported 1,719 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday evening with 44 related deaths
Pakistan urges dialogue on Iran in call with European Union’s vice president
- Ishaq Dar, Kaja Kallas discuss regional tensions as Pakistan stresses diplomacy
- Both officials also appreciate the ‘positive momentum’ in Pakistan-EU relations
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy while discussing the situation in Iran during a telephone call between Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and the European Union’s Vice President Kaja Kallas, according to the foreign office.
The call came amid heightened regional tensions linked to unrest in Iran, as European governments intensify scrutiny of Tehran’s response to protests and assess broader security risks.
“DPM/FM reaffirmed the importance of sustained dialogue and engagement,” the foreign office said, adding that both sides agreed to remain in close contact.
The statement added that Dar and Kallas welcomed the “positive momentum” in Pakistan-EU relations and discussed ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation.
European governments have in recent days condemned Iran’s crackdown to quell the anti-government protests that broke out last month over economic hardship and escalated into widespread demonstrations.
On Friday, the European Union’s aviation regulator urged airlines to avoid Iranian airspace, citing heightened risks linked to weapons systems, air-defense activity and the potential for misidentification amid elevated regional tensions, according to a Reuters report.
Pakistan has consistently called for restraint, dialogue and political solutions in regional crises, positioning diplomacy as a means to prevent escalation and protect regional stability.
