Sindh govt to impose three-hour complete lockdown on Friday

KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to impose a complete lockdown on Friday from 12 noon to 3pm in an attempt to prevent large gatherings during the time of congregation prayers.

The provincial government has decided to impose a complete lockdown in a bid to limit people from gathering in mosques in large numbers in consultation with religious scholars and clerics of different sects. 

The decision has been taken to limit large gatherings during Friday prayers, while all shops and business centers will also remain closed during the lockdown. It was observed last week that a large number of people came to offer prayers creating a standoff with the police outside mosques and places of worship.

An official in the provincial government told media that the Ulema have been asked not to allow common people other than mosque staff to offer prayers in their mosques. He the prayer leader, muazin, caretaker and one or two other employees of the mosque would be allowed to pray in congregation.

The officer said it would not be a curfew but the government will make sure that business centers remain closed and no one attends religious congregations. It may be mentioned that the Sindh government had imposed a complete lockdown for 15 days from March 23 in order to contain and curb further spread of coronavirus

Meanwhile, three more patients recovered from novel coronavirus in Sindh and tested negative for the disease on Wednesday, taking the number of recovered patients in the province to 54.

The confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pakistan has jumped to 2039, whereas 59 patients have recovered from coronavirus pandemic across the country, according to the National Command and Control Centre whereas twelve are in critical condition.