Islamabad (Web Desk) Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood on Wednesday announced that the educational institutions in seven cities of Punjab province will close down from March 15 for two weeks due to spike in COVID-19 cases.
Addressing a press conference along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minster (SAPM) on health Dr Faisal Sultan after a meeting at the National Command and Operations (NCOC), the minister said that institutions in Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Gujarat, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Silakot will be closed from March 15 for spring holidays until March 28.
“The same would apply for schools in Islamabad,” Shafqat added.
The decision regarding Muzaffarabad will be taken by the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Government, he said.
The minister said that the government will review the situation in April and make further decisions, further allowing schools to review the situation related to the cases on their own and take decisions accordingly.
The education minister said that exams of classes 9, 10, 11 and 12, earlier scheduled for the months of May and June, will take place as planned.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Faisal Sultan said that the government has decided to withdraw the permission given to resume indoor weddings, dine-in, cinemas and shrines, in view of the current circumstances.
“The indication that was earlier given for March 15 for indoor gatherings is being withdrawn, while directions for outdoor gathering will remain the same,” the SAPM added.
Dr Faisal appealed to the people to adhere to the SOPs, including observing social distancing and wearing masks since cases had surged again.
Earlier, Asad Umar presided over the NCOC meeting attended by ministers from all the provinces and federating units.
The forum was given comprehensive update and review about non-pharmaceutical interventions already issued and which were valid till March 15.
