Lockdown to knock down virus

Lahore, the capital of the most populated province, wore a deserted look on Pakistan Day – a public holiday the nation has been commemorating for decades with zeal – as the war on virus intensified.

As part of efforts to stem coronavirus, employers have allowed their staff to work from home and now just skeleton staff is working at most offices.

Punjab CM Usman Buzdar on Monday announced a partial lockdown in the province. Earlier he had appealed to people to stay at home over the weekend and ordered closure of all shopping malls, parks and public places.

The Punjab government was forced to take the extreme step as calls for a complete lockdown grew stronger after a surge in corona virus over the last few days.

The governments of all provinces have imposed lockdown to contain coronavirus spread. The Sindh government made a request to the armed forces for help in combat against corona.