Pakistan Bans All Indoor, Outdoor Weddings From April 5

All indoor and outdoor weddings across Pakistan are banned from April 5 that will last throughout Ramazan amid a recent spike of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases.

The decision was announced by Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar on Sunday after chairing the National Command and Operation Centre NCOC meeting. 

“Provinces will be free to implement restrictions early in time as per the situation on the ground,” the statement added.

The NCOC stated that all kinds of gatherings (indoor/outdoor) will be banned with immediate effect. “This will include all social, cultural, political, sports, and other events,” it said.

The meeting also took decisions to ensure implementation of SOPs, while from March 29, the provinces will be provided maps of fresh hotspots for lockdown.

A decision has been taken to tighten restrictions amid the rising number of critical coronavirus patients at hospitals in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad.

The chief secretaries of the four provinces attended the NCOC meeting via video link.

In a tweet after chairing the meeting, Umar said that the government has decided to impose strict restrictions after a rapid surge in COVID cases has been witnessed.

Read More: NCOC COVID SOPs; Banquet owners reject indoor wedding ban

“Held NCOC meeting today with provincial chief secretaries & reviewed the situation. Based on continuing increase in disease spread & fast pace at which hospital fill up is taking place, particularly critical covid patients, decided to further tighten restrictions,” he stated.