ISLAMABAD – Pakistan on Friday decided against imposing full lockdown inthe country amid rise in Covid-19 cases.

It was decided in the National Coordination Committee (NCC)’s meetingpresided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan. It was expected that a lockdownwould be imposed in cities where the virus positivity ratio is above 10%.

The meeting reviewed the current pandemic situation in the country todecide about imposing further restrictions as the third wave of coronaviruswreaks havoc in Pakistan.

Briefing the media after the meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan urged thepublic to follow coronavirus standard operating procedures to avoid acomplete lockdown.

The prime minister, however, announced that a lockdown would not beimplemented for now as it will affect the working class and theirbusinesses. He urged the masses to wear a mask at all the times. He saidthat he sought help from the Pakistan Army to implement the coronavirusSOPs in the country.

“Barely anyone is following SOPs anymore,” he said, adding that if we arenot careful, the situation in Pakistan will be similar to that of India inthe next one or two weeks.

Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar announced the followingdecision which were taken during the NCC meeting.