ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Center has recommended a fortnight lockdown in different cities of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu & Kashmir.

An NCOC letter in this regard to the Ministry of Industries and Production read, “Two weeks city wise lockdown in districts/ cities with high disease prevalence is tentatively planned with effect from May 2/3, 2021. Therefore you are requested to carry out necessary planning at your end.”

The cities which may likely be placed under lockdown are: Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Hyderabad, Peshawar, Dir Lower, Mardan, Nowshera, Malakand, Charsadda, Swat, Swabi, Muzaffarabad, Sudhnuti, Poonch and Bagh.

The NCOC has also decided to impose inter-provincial and inter-city travel ban during Eid holidays.

It decided to impose complete ban on tourism from 8th to 16th of the next month, including Eid holidays. It further states that tourist resorts, public parks, restaurants and hotels in and around tourist spots as well as shopping malls will remain closed. It adds that travel nodes leading to tourist spots will remain closed with special focus on Murree, Galiyat, Swat-Kalam, Sea View, beaches and Northern Areas.

The NCOC decided that uninterrupted electricity supply during Eid holidays should be ensured. Locals of GB will be allowed to travel back to GB during Eid holidays.

Pakistan on Wednesday reported the highest number of deaths, 201, in a day since the beginning of the coronavirus.

Later on Apr 28, the NCOC cancelled its earlier letter.