Sindh information minister warns of action against those violating lockdown

Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah on Friday urged the public to follow government’s orders as the province tightens restrictions in an attempt to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

According to The News, a handout issued yesterday quoted Shah as saying that if people continue to ignore the directives issued by the government regarding the lockdown, there is no other way than to take action against them in accordance with the law.

The provincial minister said the decision to lock down had been taken by the Sindh government in a state of utmost compulsion, adding that the people should not consider it a curfew but the government exercising its duty of care towards citizens.

By staying at home, one can protect not only themselves but their families and others from being infected with the virus, the minister urged. 

He said the chief minister was worried and was taking all necessary decisions swiftly to protect the people of Sindh from being affected by the disease.

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Shah added that the chief minister had repeatedly made it clear that the government did not want to adopt any drastic measures, but owing to the presence of some lawless and careless people, if things took a turn for the worse, it would not hesitate to do so.

Supporting vulnerable groups

The information minister further said the government was concerned about those working on daily wages before taking drastic measures and was working on making arrangements to provide rations at their homes with the help of welfare organisations. 

He added that without the help of these welfare organisations, delivering rations to every needy person was a difficult task, if not impossible.

“PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is also very concerned about the distribution of rations among the needy,” Shah was quoted as saying. 

“He [Bilawal] was creating awareness among the people about the coronavirus and has also asked the chief minister in this regard.”

Read also: Sindh curtails business hours to 5pm as lockdown intensifies

He said that in the light of the PPP chairman’s instructions, the chief minister was busy taking necessary steps and adopting all the right measures day and night to reach every single needy person.

“The chief minister is presiding over meetings with the concerned institutions and individuals on a daily basis,” Shah said, adding that these meetings discussed in detail what course of action should be adopted to prevent the spread of coronavirus and to provide the people with rations at their doorsteps.

The information minister added that in order to create awareness amongst the people regarding the virus, the PPP chairman had formed an awareness committee comprising senior members of his party.

Shah informed that he had also been included in the mass awareness committee. 

“This committee will make sure of the adoption of every possible necessary measure to create awareness amongst the masses,” he added.

Sindh curtails business hours to 5pm 

The Sindh government on Friday, in its attempt to control the spread of coronavirus, also curtailed business timings for all kinds of commercial activity from 8am to 5pm.

The restrictions have been made more stringent as the coronavirus pandemic continues to claim victims across the country, with over 400 infections and a death in Sindh.

Earlier, the provincial government had allowed businesses to run for 12 hours (8am to 8pm).