The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government on Sunday announced the withdrawal of lockdown easing measures from Tuesday following a “dangerous increase” in corona virus cases in the region.
According to the Dawn newspaper, a notification issued by the AJ’s Home Department said, “In view of the rapid spread of the corona virus and the alarming rise in the number of patients, the government will lock down from Monday to midnight.” I am suspending relaxation.
The notification added that “a complete lockdown will be carried out which was earlier enacted on March 23 under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1958”.
It may be recalled that the Azad Jammu and Kashmir government had imposed a complete lockdown on March 23, during which only drug stores and essentials shops were allowed to operate for certain hours under the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Was allowed to open.
Under intense pressure from the business community, as well as the assumption that the epidemic has not affected the region as badly as it has affected other parts of the country, the lockdown in Azad Jammu and Kashmir finally took place on April 24. I was relieved.
The administration was “surprised” by the sharp rise in the number of corona virus cases in the region after the introduction of strict measures to enforce precautionary measures such as social distance in urban areas.
According to Dr Mustafa Bashir Abbasi, spokesman for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir government and a member of the cabinet, there were 60 confirmed cases of corona virus in AJK between March 26 and April 30, but by May 17, the number had risen to 112.
He said that in Muzaffarabad where only 6 cases were received till May 1, now their number has increased to 34.
“The worrying thing is that many of these cases have come to light after samples were taken from different parts of the state capital,” he said.
Dr. Mustafa Bashir Abbasi said, “The attitude of most shopkeepers and people has not left any doubt in the fact that they are either completely unaware of this danger or do not understand SOPs at all.”
In his statement, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider clarified that his government was compelled to withdraw the relaxation of lockdown in the interest of public safety.
“I have been urging people to avoid unnecessary travel, going to the market and violating social distance,” he said.
“After pointing out several positive cases while taking various samples in Muzaffarabad, most of my fears have come true,” he said.
“No business or festival is more than human life, and people are asked to stay indoors and celebrate the coming Eid with simplicity,” he said.
Read also: The first case of Corona came to light in Azad Jammu and Kashmir
He said that if we celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with simplicity this year, the paradises will not end.
“It’s better to stay indoors and ask God for forgiveness than to risk your life and the lives of your loved ones in the bazaars,” he said.
Transport suspended
The Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has also announced that after meeting the transporters, it has been decided that inter-provincial and in-state transport will remain suspended.
“I have sent a clear message to my administration that anyone violating the lockdown conditions should not be forgiven, no matter who they are,” he said.
It may be recalled that Prime Minister Imran Khan had earlier this month reopened all industries and shopping centers in the construction sector for five days a week from Fajr to 5 pm to end the nationwide lockdown in a phased manner from May 9. Was announced.
Shortly afterwards, the governments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan also announced a partial easing of lockdowns to curb the spread of the corona virus