ISLAMABAD: Universities in the southern Pakistani province of Sindh will reopen from today, Monday, with 100 percent attendance, Sindh universities and boards department announced on Sunday, as the country’s COVID-19 positivity rate dropped below 2 percent.
The Pakistani government last month decided to reopen educational institutes across the country from September 16 after the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), which oversees Pakistan’s pandemic response.
The provincial government in Sindh had decided to delay the reopening of educational institutions.
“All public and private universities/institutes under the administrative control of the Universities and Boards Department, Government of Sindh, are hereby allowed to resume regular academic activities with effect from 11.10.2021 with 100 percent attendance,” the Sindh universities and boards department said in a notification.
It said the relaxation was subject to “strict observance” of COVID-19 safety measures and in line with decisions made at an NCOC meeting held earlier this week.
Additionally, the vaccination of students aged 12 and above shall be mandatory, the notification read, and educational institutes would establish dedicated counters to ensure this.
Last week, Planning Minister Asad Umar announced that the NCOC had allowed educational institutions to resume normal classes from October 11.
“Based on the reduced level of disease spread and the launch of the school vaccination program, it has been decided in today’s NCOC meeting to allow all educational institutions to start normal classes from Monday the 11th of October,” Umar said in a Twitter post.
Based on the reduced level of disease spread and the launch of the school vaccination program, it has been decided in today's NCOC meeting to allow all educational institutions to start normal classes from Monday the 11th of October.
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) October 7, 2021
The development came as the country’s virus positivity rate dropped to 1.8 percent.
Pakistan reported 19 deaths from the virus on Sunday.