ISLAMABAD: Asad Umar, Pakistan’s planning minister and head of the country’s central pandemic response body, the NCOC, announced new coronavirus restrictions on Monday, including that indoor dining at restaurants would be banned and markets would be closed two days a week.
Pakistan reported 4,858 new infections in the last 24 hours, with 40 deaths. Cases had steadily declined in May and June but are now rising once more. The government of Prime Minister Imran Khan is opposed to imposing a complete nationwide lockdown due to its economic side effects and has preferred smart, localized lockdowns in disease hotspots and a focus on implementation of social distancing rules and other health guidelines.
“We have to protect the health of the people as well as their jobs,” Umar said in a statement, announcing that market hours would be reduced from 10 to 8 p.m. and shops would remain closed two days a week.
“It has been decided to close indoor dining, takeaway facility will be available 24 hours a day,” the planning minister said, adding that offices and public transportation would function at 50 percent capacity.
The restrictions would apply in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Lahore, Islamabad and Multan until August 31, Umar said.
Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, meanwhile imposed a week-long partial lockdown starting Saturday to curb the spread of the coronavirus Delta variant, as the city’s hospitals are close to saturation levels, the provincial chief minister said last week.
According to Aga Khan University Hospital, there is almost 100 percent prevalence of the Delta variant in the city.
Last week, Pakistan’s federal government announced a ban on staff entering public offices, schools, restaurants, transport, shopping malls and air-travel without vaccination certificates, despite only 2.7 percent of the population having had the full two COVID-19 vaccine shots.
Pakistan announces new restrictions for August as coronavirus cases rise
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Pakistan announces new restrictions for August as coronavirus cases rise
- Indoor dining banned, offices and public transportation to function at 50 percent capacity
- Restrictions to apply in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Lahore, Islamabad and Multan until August 31
Pakistan backs replacement of electricity-intensive fans ahead of summer
- Finance ministry sets aside $7 million guarantee to support bank financing
- Government seeks rapid scale-up after pilot with 11 commercial banks
KARACHI: Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb on Thursday reaffirmed support for a government-backed fan replacement program aimed at reducing electricity consumption ahead of the summer peak season, as authorities seek to ease pressure on the power system and promote energy conservation.
The initiative allows consumers to replace older, electricity-intensive fans with energy-efficient models through bank financing. To encourage commercial banks to participate, the Ministry of Finance has allocated Rs2 billion ($7 million) as a 10 percent first-loss risk guarantee, designed to absorb part of the credit risk and facilitate lending to households.
“From the perspective of the Ministry of Finance, the initiative remains a high priority, and the Ministry will continue to provide all necessary support to the Power Division to ensure its successful implementation and rapid scaling,” the finance minister said in a statement.
Electric fans are among the most widely used appliances in Pakistan, especially during the long and intense summer months when electricity demand typically surges and contributes to strain on the national grid.
According to the finance ministry, the program was formally launched on Thursday after a pilot phase conducted in collaboration with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and 11 commercial banks.
During the trial phase, around 186 energy-efficient fans were installed, with disbursements of approximately Rs1.35 million ($4,800) benefiting 67 borrowers.
Officials said the financing and digital systems required to process applications and disburse funds are now operational, paving the way for expansion.
Aurangzeb said the next phase would focus on scaling up the program more rapidly in coordination with the SBP and commercial lenders so that its benefits are realized sooner rather than over a 10-year horizon.
