ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi has urged religious scholars to fully implement the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as the country witnessed a sharp spike in COVID-19 cases in a single day.
Talking to Mohtamin of Wafaq-ul-Madaris Qari Hanif Jalandhari and Allama Sajid Naqvi on the telephone today, the President appealed to them to observe all SOPs during Ramadan.
صدر عارف علوی کا علامہ ساجد نقوی اور مولانا حنیف جالندھری سے ٹیلیفونک رابطہ
صدر مملکت کی رمضان المبارک اور مجالس میں انسدادِ کورونا تدابیر اختیار کرنے کی اپیل
مجالس میں ماسک پہنیں اور محفوظ فاصلہ اپنائیں، صدر مملکت
بزرگ افراد عبادات گھر پر سرانجام دیں، صدر مملکت pic.twitter.com/kuRuJ6bjZl
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) May 2, 2021
Dr. Arif Alvi asked the religious scholars to stress the people to wear masks while offering prayers and observe the distance.
He appealed to Allama Sajid Naqvi to convince the people to wear the masks and observe distance at Majalis. Allama Sajid Naqvi assured the President of the full implementation of SOPs and said all precautionary measures will be ensured.
President said he has written letters to Wafaq-ul-Madaris to implement the SOPs in all madaris and mosques during the holy month of Ramadan.
Meanwhile, The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has issued guidelines for Youm-e-Ali (RA), Aitekaf, Jummatul Wida and Eidul Fitr to contain the Third wave of the novel coronavirus.
According to a statement, Youm-e-Ali (RA) processions are completely banned, whereas, clerics and zakireen will make the citizens aware of the virus. However, majalis will be allowed to be organised where all participants should undergo thermal screening.
One metre distance will be maintained among all indoor and outdoor majalis among all participants besides completely complying with the standard operating procedures (SOPs). NCOC has also advised organizing majalis online or at the outdoor locality.
“Thermal screening should be made on the gates of imam dargahs and mosques and marking should be made for the sitting arrangements for the people to maintain a distance of at least 3 feet during majalis,” it added.
The NCOC has asked those people having COVID-19 symptoms to observe aitekaf at their homes instead of coming to mosques or imam bargahs. However, those coming to the mosques should take their beds and other necessary items from the home.
Citizens were also asked to refrain from shaking hands and hugging during the Eidul Fitr gatherings, as well as avoiding unnecessarily travelling and family events.
The administration of mosques has been ordered to keep doors and windows opened during the Eidul Fitr prayers and refrain from using water coolers.
