Keeping in view the worsening pandemic situation in the provincial capital, the Punjab government is considering imposing a complete lockdown in Lahore and proposals in this regard have been prepared. 

According to sources, a complete lockdown can be imposed in Lahore if people continue to violate the standard operating procedures (SOPs) prepared by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC). The proposals for a complete lockdown in Lahore would be submitted to the NCOC at the upcoming meeting. Sources say a complete lockdown will be imposed in the cities where the number of coronavirus will cross the red line. 

In a related development, the NCOC briefed Federal Minister Asad Umar about the pandemic situation in the country. The NCOC expressed concern at the increasing number of coronavirus cases in the country and violations of SOPs by the general public. The NCOC has directed the provinces to strictly enforce the coronavirus SOPs in every part of the country. 

A meeting of the chief secretaries on the pandemic situation will be held on Sunday. The meeting will consider tougher measures to make people follow the SOPs. The NCOC has appealed to senior citizens to get vaccinated against coronavirus and said that people above 70 years of age should benefit from the walk-in vaccination facility. 

Reporters: Qazzafi Butt & Saba Bajeer