There was a complete lockdown in Lahore on Saturday which was imposed to check the rising cases of Covid-19 coronavirus, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

All big and small markets including Anarkali, Neela Gunbad, Cycle Market, Urdu Bazaar, Paper Market remained closed. Dozens of markets situated on Circular Road including Shah Alam Market, Azam Market, Brandreth Road Market, Badami Bagh auto parts market and shops in Walled City were also closed. 

Ichhra Bazaar, markets situated on Ferozpur and Wahdat roads, furniture markets, and bullion market remained shut. Shopping plazas in Chungi Amarsadhu, Gulberg and Liberty; and iron and chemical factories of the city and Lunda Bazaar remained closed during the lockdown. 

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Commissioner Lahore said there was complete lockdown in Lahore for two days, Saturday and Sunday and he urged the people to stay home and come out only if it was necessary. 

He said fruit, vegetable, milk and yogurt shops would remain open. Whereas petrol pumps, vaccination centres and pharmacies are exempt from this ban, he added. 

He said there would also be a ban on Inter-provincial transport service during these two days. 

Although the Punjab government has exempted grocery stores from the ban but the police were forcefully closing big grocery stores in Wapda Town, Gulberg, Gulshan Ravi and other areas. 

Superstores grocery association held a meeting in Gulberg and demanded of the administration to stop the police officials from closing down grocery shops. The association’s Lahore president Ahmad Nawaz and general secretary Imran Saleemi participated in the meeting. They said there would become a shortage of necessary use items in the market if police continued to close the grocery shops, adding that there was already shortage of sugar in the open market. 

Vaccination centres in Lahore

Preparations for establishment of vaccination centres in 10 government schools of the city have been started.

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In each school, six counters will be set up. The vaccination points will work under the authority of health department and local administration. The education authority will monitor the vaccination process at these centres.  

The government has announced to start vaccination process for people aged 40 and above from May 3. 

Reporter Shahzeb Bhatti