Sindh govt. withdraws its decision to seal several areas in Karachi’s East Zone

The Sindh government on Saturday has withdrawn from its decision to cordon off several areas in Karachi’s East Zone, few hours after ordering them sealed.

As per the decision issued earlier by the provincial government, the deputy commissioner ordered 11 neighbourhoods of Karachi to be sealed, with police and Rangers were told to ensure people stay within the sealed areas.

Later, taking back the decision, Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah said that the government will not seal entire union councils UCs, rather “only those specific areas where cases have been reported will be sealed”.

“It will cause great inconvenience to the people if such large areas are completely closed off,” he said.

According to notification issued earlier today, the provincial government said that the step was being taken under Sindh Epidemic Disease Act (2014) and “in larger public interest to prevent widespread outbreak of novel coronavirus”.

“To curb this pandemic we have to take some big steps,” the government official added.

It it pertinent to mention here that the notification issued earlier had a serious mix-up where nine neighbourhoods were numbered wrong.

Gilani Railway is a part of UC-22 not UC-6, Dalmia is UC-23 not UC-7, Jamali Colony is UC-24 not UC-8, Gulshan Town is UC 27 not 10, Gulzar-e-Hijri is UC-29 not UC-13, Safoora is UC-30 not UC-13, Jacob Lines is UC-10 not UC-9, and Jamshed Quarters is UC-13 not UC-10.