KARACHI: The Sindh government on Friday imposed a ban on unvaccinated individuals from entering mosques to offer prayers, as the health authorities take steps to keep the coronavirus in check.
According to notification by the provincial Home Department, the district administrations have been asked to fully enforce these orders in line with the directives of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).
Per the notification, “only fully vaccinated individuals are allowed for prayers in masajid to avoid risk to others.” It further added that all worshippers will be required to continue wearing a face mask when praying inside mosques.
Aside from that, carpets will have to be removed from the floors of mosques, while adequate ventilation has to be ensured for indoor prayer gatherings. The Home Department also directed for “adequate arrangements” inside mosques.
It should be noted that as of November 25, Sindh reported 43 new cases of coronavirus in the province after 6,468 tests were conducted. No deaths were reported.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, in a statement, said that 6,686,895 tests had been conducted in the province against which 473,750 cases were diagnosed, of which 97.1% or 460,136 patients had recovered.
On Nov 14, the NCOC had decided to relax restrictions in cities across Pakistan on the basis of their respective vaccination rates.
In Narowal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Peshawar, Bhimber, Bagh, Mirpur, Skardu, Gilgit, Ghizer and Islamabad, the vaccination rate was above 50%. In Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Sialkot, Mianwali, Kallar Kahar, Hafizabad, Rahim Yar Khan, Karachi, Chitral, Charsadda, Balakot, Jhelum Valley, Rawalakot, Muzaffarabad, Neelum, Hunza and Kharmang, the vaccination rate was between 40% to 50%.
“To encourage and incentivise cities with excellent vaccination progress, the forum has decided relaxations in non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and return to normal life,” a statement had said.
