Sindh to remain under coronavirus lockdown during Ramadan: Nasir Shah

KARACHI: Sindh Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah on Thursday said that there was no suggestion under consideration in the province to lift coronavirus lockdown, ARY NEWS reported.

We will be allowing businesses to resume their activities under devised standard operating procedures (SOPs), he said adding that currently the provincial government has only allowed businesses using online portal.

We have nothing more important than the lives of the people,” he said while negating a propaganda that lockdown would be lifted in the province.

Nasir Shah said that it was due to policies of the federal government that masses had to go through this confusion.

“If the chief minister Sindh had not taken prompt action to tackle coronavirus then the situation could have been far worse than what it is today,” he said.

Later talking to media, Nasir Hussain Shah said that the lockdown in the province would continue for the entire month of Ramadan and there is no need to notify it again as the previous notification was for the entire holy month.

“There will be a complete lockdown in the province on Friday (tomorrow) from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm,” he said and asked the clerics and masses to implement it likewise the previous Fridays.

He further said that they were prepared to meet the President Arif Alvi today, however, he suddenly postponed the visit.

“Sania Nishtar and Dr Zafar Mirza also had to accompany him,” he said and urged the federal government to avoid conveying mixed signals over implementation on the lockdown orders.

Nasir Shah said that they have formed a committee to facilitate traders and resume businesses before the Eid.

“An announcement to facilitate them will be made soon,” he said adding that the coronavirus would last long and their policies would also be devised keeping in view the situation.