Punjab Govt Keeping Lockdown But Easing Restrictions

LAHORE: The Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department of Government of Punjab has issued a notification stating that the Punjab Lockdown is being extended while introducing some exemptions.

According to the notification issued, the Government of Punjab is extending the lockdown further extending the applicability of the order issued on 24 April by the same department. However, they are adding some exemptions which will ease restrictions on some sectors of the economy.

The notification states that the following exemptions are added to the lockdown till 31 May 2020 but these can be modified at any time.

Phase-II of the construction sector, i.e. businesses of steel and PVC Pipes, electric appliances, manufacturers of steel and aluminum equipment, ceramic and paints industries, sanitary paints, steel and aluminum works and hardware stores subject to the adoption of SOPs / guidelines issued for industrial units and sale points.
All factories not included in negative list, including export industry, will be allowed to resume their operations. However, detailed notification in this regard shall be issued separately by the industries Department.
All retail shops except large shopping malls subject to adoption of SOPs / guidelines for four days a week operationalization as per para 2.
All hair salons, barber shops and Gymnasiums subject to adoption of SOPs / guidelines.

All shops and businesses exempted under this order shall open for four days in a week from 8.00 AM to 5:00 PM and remain closed on Friday, Saturday & Sunday.

The following businesses are allowed to open from 9:00am to 5:00pm, 7 days a week:

Grocery stores, general stores, karyana stores, bakeries, atta chakkis, milk/dairy shops, chicken & meat/fish shops, fruit & vegetable shops and all kinds of mandis including grain, fruit, cattle and vegetable mandies, tandoors and all auto workshops.

The following businesses are allowed to be kept open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

Tyre puncture shops, spare parts shops, driver hotels, petrol pumps and oil depots and Takeaway / Home Delivery from restaurants.

The following businesses are allowed to operate from 9:00am to 5:00pm, 4 days a week (Monday through Thursday):

Postal / courier services, for pick and drop from/at doorsteps and its relevant inter-city and inter-provincial vehicular movement

The following shall remain closed:

Large shopping malls.
Educational Institutions.
Restaurants, (except takeaway and home delivery).
Hotels (except takeaway, home delivery, hair salons and gyms).
Marquees, Marriage Halls, Cinemas and places of large gatherings.
Public processions / gatherings / congregations of all nature.
Organized sports events and concerts.
Public transport except Qingqi and Rickshaw. For the resumption of public transport, meetings will be held with the representative of transporters at Provincial and divisional level to prepare proper SOPs for operationalization of transport sector.

The notification mentions that this order will go into effect immediately.