CORONAVIRUS: Balochistan lockdown extended till 5 May, SOPs issued

The coronavirus pandemic is getting worse in Pakistan and Balochistan has extended the province wide lockdown till 5 May after the surge of coronavirus cases in the country.

A notification was issued by the Balochistan Home Department with specific instructions on the matter stating what services and businesses are not allowed to operate and which are exempted.

According to the government strict action will be taken against violators and FIR be be registered against them. Over 200 shops have been sealed in only Quetta alone for violation of of lockdown and several arrested.

According to the notification there will be a complete ban on the following:

There shall be a complete ban on all within the city, inter-district and inter-Province movement of public transport by all means including gathering of ten ore more than ten persons, sit-in and processions/rallies at public places
There shall also be a complete ban on gatherings of all kinds of social, religious, or any other purpose at any place, public or private.
Travelling in groups without keeping a distance of over three feet between the individuals strictly prohibited. Pillion riding on motor bikes is therefore no permitted (except female member of a family, kid(s) or an old age person).
No more than two persons to travel in a car. Third person allowed only in case where a sick person, being carried, requires such an attendant
Person(s), coming out in public places for necessity, must necessarily wear mask, scarf or any other piece of cloth.
All educational institutions i.e. schools, colleges, technical and vocational institutes, coaching centers, madaris (already closed till 31^,, May, 2020 by Government.
Shopping malls, cinema halls, farm houses, p.n. spots, entertainment places, marriage halls, banquet halls, marquees, lawns, gyms/clubs, swimming pools, sport complexes, physical training camps, parks/playing areas, hotels, halls, auditoriums, showrooms, beauty parlors, shops/stores of lux, goods/services, outlets etc.
Religious & soda! congregations, ceremonies, functions, gatherings of all kind.
Gathering on shrines (Darbars / Dargas) and public visitors/meeting prisoners.
intercity and Inter-Provincial public passenger transport
Wedding, Valimas including the ceremony of “Mehndi”, prior to Ramazan.
All offices, public and private shall remain closed (If notified by S&GAD).

The following shall be exempted from these orders:

Personnel related to Health Services including Hospitals, Laboratories and Medical Stores, blood banks, pharmaceutical and medicine supply, Food & Food packing supplies/units.
Personnel related to Law Enforcement Agencies, enforcing / implementing this order.
Persons in need of medical care with an attendant where necessary.
Persons going to buy grocery and medicines within the vicinity of their residence.
Necessary / unavailable religious rites like the last rites Namaz e Janaza, burial and related events provided that all precautions against spread of disease are taken and a safe distance of one (01) meter (3 feet) is maintained between people gathered in small numbers/close family member after prior intimation to SHO of the area.
Persons requiring emergency medical care.
Doctors/medical and related staff, providing, attending emergency services.
Technical staff of QESCO, Municipality, SSGC1., WASA, sewerage Mated emergencies.
Government Administration and essential staff vide Notification NoS-11.5(27)/2020/S&GAD dated 21. March, 2020 (Officers/officials of closed Departments to remain on.call for any duty/assignment).
Any exemption that may be deemed necessary by the Nome Department.

Exemted Services:

Utility Companies: WASA, Municipalities, QESCO, PTA / PTCL / NTC / NTDC, SSGCL.
PPL and OGDCL and BME with essential staff.
Public and Private telecom/cellular companies and their franchises with limited public dealing/technical staff for maintenance/limited Admin: staff.
Call centers/Customers support Centers with no public dealing.
Banks (only essential staff) with limited public dealing.
Defense related manufacturing industries.
Food items manufacturing industries and distribution offices.
Health & related services I.e. hospitals, medical stores, laboratories, manufacturers.
Ambulances, Blood Banks/Centers, UN Agencies/Partners, NG0s / PPP companies related to Health Department and caterers of Hospitals
Grocery Stores, General and Convenience Stores.
Fish, meat, vegetable/fruit vendors and dairy shops.
Dry port operations and Customs services.
Petrol pumps and auto-workshops/tire puncture repair shops.
Fruit, vegetable cattle and grain markets (mandi).
Welfare organizations I.s. Edhl, Seylani and Cheeps, providing essential services and other registered trusts duly permitted for distribution of assistance amongst general public in coordination with District Administration and LEAs.
Media persons authorized by concerned media houses, newspaper hawkers, newspaper sorting/distribution.
Supplies to UN agencies.
Supplies/sale of Animals and Poultry feeds/milk and dairy products.
Pets shops shall remain open only for two hours i.e. 12:00 noon to 02:00 pm.
Persons on goods transport, carrying essential goods/permitted services related items with one helper/cleaner (no passenger allowed on goods transport).
Food and related shops/manufacturers/distributers and all related In chain ix. wheat and rice, pulses, bandana etc. seeds, fertilizers. pesticides and related shops/godowns.
Agriculture and related activities including growing/harvesting etc and related use of tractors/threshers and their repair/maintenance etc.
The hotels/restaurants shall deliver the food on take-away pattern or home delivery service only.
No ban on transport of food or medical related Items and permissible goods and no ban on transportation of food chain supplies from other Provinces to Baluchistan.
Railway freight services and their essential staff.
Petrol Pumps and related services, Oil tankers, LPG transport etc
Postal / Courier services.
The shops, godowns of sand, crush, cement, steel, bricks & PVC pipes only
The shops selling only dates/KhaJoor (dry fruit shops are not included).
Any other class as may be deemed essential and so declared by the Government.

The following conditions will apply to the persons / establishments given expemptions:

One person may travel in a private vehicle. In case of medical emergency, one attendant may accompany the patient.
One person per family may go out to buy essential medicines,grocery etc.
An elderly or handicapped person may be assisted by a driver.
Persons on vehicles, transporting essential food items, medicines,medical equipment from godowns, farms,mills or factories may be assisted by one helper or cleaner during the transportation.
All persons travelling as exempted, must be carry CNIC and official card or an authority letter duly signed and stamped by the head of the concerned department or business concerned.
All personnel of the exempted departments must travel and work, keeping in view the social distance (1 meter/ 3 feet) and take safety precautions against the spread of coronavirus.
Large departmental stores will only keep their grocery section open while all others sections will remain closed. They will allow customers to enter stores in smaller groups while fulfilling the condition of social distancing.
All departmental stores will ensure that their grocery trollies are disinfected after every use.
The employees of an industry/organization and commercial entities must ensure safe distance and adopt precautionary measures at work place.
Employer/Manager of permissible commercial entity, dealing with customers, are to ensure that adequate space is available inside the store/factory/godown etc and the customer/staff are maintaining safe distance and adhering to the precautions. Floor markings and volunteers may require to guide the flow of people in queues.
Employer shall also ensure that any employee, complaining or having symptoms of coronavirus, shall be tested, isolated and reported as per practice in vogue (Owner,employer/manager will be held responsible in case of faulure to comply with the above orders.)

This order shall be given wider publicity in official Gazette, Daily Newspapers and broadcasting through Radio Pakistan, Pakistan Television and other Print/Electronic media for information of the general public. The Police/Levies, District administration and other LEAs are strictly directed to ensure implementation of orders of the Government in order to avoid spead of COVID-19.

Follow INCPAK on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram for update.