ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province have imposed “smart micro lockdowns” and closed more than 100 restaurants in the country's financial capital of Karachi over violations of social distancing rules amid a sudden increase in COVID-19 deaths.
Six marriage halls and 103 restaurants were closed in Karachi for noncompliance with COVID-19 health guidelines, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said on Friday. On Thursday night, lockdowns were imposed in several posh neighborhoods of the port city after new coronavirus cases were detected there.
Pakistanis have been seen routinely violating social distancing since last month when wedding halls were allowed to open on the condition that they adhere to social distancing rules.
Pakistan had recorded 313,984 coronavirus cases as of Friday, the highest in Sindh province, which has 137,783. At 2,517, Sindh has also seen the largest number of coronavirus deaths.
According to a notification released by the office of the deputy commissioner (South) Karachi, anyone entering or exiting the lockdown areas would have to wear a mask, people’s movement would be “strictly restricted” and only grocery shops and pharmacies would be allowed to remain open during shortened hours.

No home delivery or take away would be allowed from restaurants and one person from each household would be allowed to go out to buy food items and medicines after presenting identity documents to law enforcement agencies.
“Only one attendant, where extremely necessary, shall be allowed with a person in need of medical care,” the notification said. “No private / family get-together will be allowed in private homes … Pillion riding shall be strictly banned in these areas. All public transport (buses, taxis, rickshaws, Uber, Careem, SWVL, Airlift) is banned to ply on the roads in these areas.”
The notification also said the government would make every effort to provide mobile dispensaries and mobile utility stores in the locked down areas.