News Desk
All educational institutions will remain closed in Islamabad, Peshawar and seven cities of Punjab from Monday for two weeks due to rising Coronavirus cases there.
This has been announced by the Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood has while addressing a news conference along with Special Assistant To Prime Minister on Health Dr. Faisal Sultan in Islamabad on Wednesday after a meeting of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).
On the occasion, the Education Minister has said that the cities of Punjab where these two-week spring vacations will be observed include Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Gujrat, Sialkot, Multan and Rawalpindi. He said this decision will not be applicable on examinations and a similar decision is expected to be announced from Muzaffarabad as well.
Shafqat Mahmood further stated that in other parts of the country the educational activities will continue as per routine practice of 50% attendance every day with strict observance of standard operating procedures (SOPs). He said the provincial governments will continue monitoring the situation about Covid19 and they can decide about closure of any institution on the basis of facts. NCOC will also be constantly monitoring the situation, he added.
The SAPM on Health has said on the occasion that the policy of smart lockdown and micro-smart lockdown in targeted areas and ban on holding marriage ceremonies in covered areas will continue across the country.
Dr Faisal Sultan has said that the public parks will be closed at 6:00 pm and commercial activities at 10:00 pm except essential services. He said the situation will be further reviewed on 12th of next month.
“The vaccination process of senior citizens of 60 years of age and above has been started and these elderly people can get vaccination sending their CNIC number to 1166,” he added.
