The government and the Shia Ulema Thursday agreed upon standard operating procedures (SOPs) to be followed during Muharram Haram so that coronavirus spread could be stemmed during the holy month.

The SOPs were finalised in a meeting between President Dr Arif Alvi and Shia Ulema at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

The SOPs include maintaining social distance, marking for sitting, entry with mask, carpet ban, mats chlorination outside Imambargah, time-bound Majalis, elderly persons entry ban, bars on handshake/hugging, separate beads and prayer mats and takeaway food.

The mourners would not be allowed to touch Alam (flag), Taazia and Shabih and just the licensed processions would be allowed subject to enforcement of SOPs, including hand sanitizers, face masks, single use glasses for drinking water, limited number of participants with restriction on old-aged and ailing persons.

Addressing the meeting, the president lauded the scholars for extending cooperation in Covid-19 combat.

The president also thanked the Ulema for cooperation and congratulated on evolving consensus on the SOPs. The scholars also lauded the president’s role in promoting national unity and harmony among different schools of thought.

Religious Affairs Minister Pir Nurul Haq Qadri, Interior Minister Aijaz Shah and Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar while Shia scholars included Allama Arif Wahidi, Raja Nasir Abbas, Dr Ghazanfar Mehdi, Allama Qamar Haider Zaidi, Raja Basharat Imami, Allama Sajjad Naqvi Allama Afzal Haidri, Allama Hussain Akbar from Punjab, Allama Shahanshah Naqvi, Allama Syed Ali Iqrar Naqvi and Allama Furqan Haider from Sindh, Allama Abid Shakiri and Allama Irshad Khalili from KP, Allama Syed Hashim Mosvi and Allama Sheikh Juma Asadi from Balochistan, and Mufti Kifayat Hussain Naqvi from the AJK participated through video link.