ISLAMABAD: National Command and Operation Centre has declared COVID-19 vaccination obligatory for public and private sector employees, saying that all government servants will have to be vaccinated by the end of this month.
The decision to this effect was taken at NCOC session held chaired by Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar. The forum decided that the countrywide mass vaccination campaign will be run under a three-pronged strategy and all citizens will be immunized on a voluntary basis, while certain incentives will be introduced for various sectors to encourage vaccination.
It was decided that all vaccination centres will remain open from 8 A.M. to 10 P.M. daily from next Friday, except on Sunday. From Friday onwards, citizens of 18 years plus will be able to avail the walk-in facility in vaccination centres.
The NCOC is in the process of developing IT based solutions for verification of vaccination certificates which shall be completed by the end of this month.
From next Tuesday onwards, it was decided to relax restrictions on closure of two days a week to one-day and choice of the day will be at the discretion of federating units.
Partial opening of indoor gyms will be allowed for vaccinated members only as well as selective non-contact sports will be permitted. However, the ban on contact sports like karate, boxing, rugby, kabbadi, wrestling, water polo and festivals, cultural and other events will remain imposed. Closure of shrines cinemas will continue.
It was decided that the existing 50 percent work from home policy will be relaxed to 100 percent office attendance. Two days weekly ban on inter-provincial transport will be lifted. Restriction regarding 50 percent occupancy for public transport will be relaxed to 70 percent occupancy.
