NCOC issues Ramazan SOPs

Ramazan SOPs!

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has issued a new set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to curb the spread of coronavirus as Pakistan begins the holy month of Ramazan.

As per the notification, the NCOC has decided to implement broader lockdowns from April 14, with stringent enforcement protocols where no mobility will be allowed except in emergency situations.

Meanwhile, Saturdays and Sundays will be observed as closed days at the national level, while market timings will be from sehri till 6 pm.

All indoor and outdoor activities, including social, cultural, political, sports, and other miscellaneous events, have been banned.

While, takeaway and delivery allowed will be allowed till sehri, while outdoor dining will be allowed from iftar till midnight. 

The government has also decided to ban inter-provincial transport on Saturdays and Sundays which will continue to be enforced till midnight April 25.

For Taraweeh prayers, NCOC stressed that it should be organised in open spaces.

The notification further added that the 50% work from home policy for all public and private offices will continue during this time.

Furthermore, Strict protocols for tourism have been imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu Kashmir, and tourist sites elsewhere.

“Sentinel testing sites at every point/selected locations will be established,” the notification stated.

Meanwhile, the Sindh government has extended the ban on weddings, restricted timings until May 16.

Read More: Sindh Govt. Announces Ramazan Lockdown SOPs

The Sindh government has extended restrictions and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for commercial, business, and social activities until May 16, 2021.

According to the notification:

• Broader lockdowns to be enforced in areas with more than eight percent positivity rate
• Only outdoor dining to be allowed at restaurants until 10 pm, and thereafter only take away and home delivery.
• All businesses including markets, shopping malls, marriage halls, etc., remain open between 6 am and 8 pm. They will remain closed on Fridays and Sundays (except essential services)
• All kinds of indoor and outdoor gatherings to remain banned
• A complete ban on indoor and outdoor marriage functions
• Intercity public transport to operate at 50pc capacity