KARACHI: Pakistan on Monday announced easing wide-ranging coronavirus restrictions across the country of 220 million people as infection numbers showed a consistent downward trend, with around 914 new cases reported in the last 24 hours and 20 deaths.
Pakistan has been battling a third wave of the coronavirus in recent months, which it has tackled with strict coronavirus rules and by picking up its vaccination drive. It has so far fully or partially vaccinated nearly 12 million people, mostly with the Chinese Sinopharm or Sinovac jabs.
On Monday, among the important changes to coronavirus rules which will come into effect from July 1, Pakistan’s pandemic response body, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), said indoor dining at restaurants would be allowed in the country once again, though at 50 percent occupancy and for vaccinated individuals only.
“Restaurants and hotels management will institute mechanism for checking of vaccination certificates of guests and will also ensure vaccination of respective management and staff,” the NCOC said in a statement. “Takeaways are allowed 24/7.”
It said outdoor marriage functions could be held with up to 400 guests while adhering to strict COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“Indoor marriages allowed only for vaccinated individuals with maximum guest limit of 200 x guests,” the statement said. “Wedding halls association / management will institute mechanism for checking of vaccination certificates of guests and will also ensure vaccination of respective management / staff.”
The government announced reopening of shrines at the discretion of provinces and local district administrations with strict adherence to social distancing rules. Amusement parks, water sports and swimming pools could continue activities at 50 percent capacity. All markets needed be closed one day a week, the government said, which would be decided by the respective provincial government.
Cinemas will also be allowed to reopen “with strict COVID protocols for vaccinated individuals only till 01:00 AM.”
But the government said a ban on all other types of indoor and outdoor gatherings including cultural, musical, religious and other miscellaneous events would continue. All contact sports and festivals were also still banned.
Public and private offices could, however, revert to normal working hours with 100 percent staff attendance, and indoor gyms could only entertain vaccinated members.
“Public transport is allowed to operate with 70 percent occupancy with strict COVID SOPs and mandatory wearing of masks,” the government said. “Rail services are allowed to operate with 70 percent occupancy with strict COVID SOPs and mandatory wearing of masks.”
“Compliance to compulsory mask wearing by all federating units while incorporating innovative measures for enforcement,” the NCOC said, adding that the policy of inbound airline travel to Pakistan would remain the same until further notice.
“These decisions will be implemented from 1st July to 31st July 2021 with review on 27th July 2021 at NCOC,” the statement added.
Pakistan to ease nearly all coronavirus restrictions from July 1
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Pakistan to ease nearly all coronavirus restrictions from July 1
- Pakistan has been battling third wave of pandemic with strict coronavirus rules and by picking up its national vaccination drive
- On Monday, government announced relaxed rules for restaurants, offices, entertainment venues, public transportation, market places
Pakistan making diplomatic efforts to de-escalate Middle East tensions, FM says
- The statement came as Iran pressed on with a third day of strikes in the Gulf in response to US-Israeli air raids
- Pakistan’s position is clear that all countries must abide by principles of UN Charter, international law, FM says
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is making diplomatic efforts to de-escalate heightened tensions in the Middle East, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Monday, amid US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s counterstrikes against US bases in Gulf countries.
Tensions escalated across the Middle East on Saturday after coordinated US-Israel strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei among other senior Iranian officials. Tehran responded by targeting US military bases in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan. Saudi Arabia said Iran also launched attacks targeting Riyadh and the Eastern Province.
The Iranian missile and drone strikes continued on Monday in retaliation for the ongoing US-Israeli air raids, casting uncertainty over the future of the Islamic republic and heightening the risk of broader instability in the already volatile region.
Speaking at a press conference, FM Dar, who recently returned from Saudi Arabia where he attended an Organization of Islamic Cooperation OIC) meeting on Palestine, said Pakistan is very closely monitoring the evolving situation in Iran and the tensions which are building up in the region.
“These serious developments have taken place at a time when diplomatic efforts were underway to reach a peaceful and negotiated solution to [Iran nuclear program],” he said.
“We are making our full diplomatic efforts and, you know, requesting all parties to de-escalate and to refrain.”
Dar said Islamabad was concerned over a violation of the norms and international law, and the age-old tradition that the heads of state and the government should not be targeted.
“Post-World War II, we all know that these institutions were created to create some international, you know, law and order, and that’s why there was a UN Charter. There are certain conventions which we all are supposed to follow,” he said.
“But things are on ground moving very differently, which obviously is worrisome... The international law must prevail and the conventions must be respected.”
The statement came hours after the Ras Tanura oil refinery in Saudi Arabia sustained limited damage as a result of debris from the interception of two drones in its vicinity, the Saudi Press Agency reported, citing an official source at the Saudi Ministry of Energy.
Several American warplanes crashed in Kuwait on Monday morning but their crew survived, Kuwait’s defense ministry said, as Iran pressed on with a third day of strikes in the Gulf.
Dar said Pakistan’s position has been clear and persistent that all countries must abide by the principles of UN Charter and international law, including respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states as well as international humanitarian law.
“In my latest conversation with [Iranian] Foreign Minister Abbas Araqshi on 28th of February, I conveyed Pakistan’s condemnation of the attacks and called for restraint and diplomacy and dialogue, which he positively responded,” he shared.
“But on ground, we are seeing that things are not yet settling or easing out.”
Pakistan stands in full solidarity with all its brotherly countries and underscores the need to exercise maximum restraint, according to FM Dar.
“This is a message we have been giving to whosoever prime minister speaks, whosoever I speak, or whosoever Field Marshal Asim Munir speaks to, his counterparts on the defense side,” he said.
