ISLAMABAD: Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar has announced that the federal government has decided to reopen restaurants, cinemas, theatres and parks from August 10.
Addressing a press conference today (Thursday), the federal minister informed that the decision was approved by the National Coordination Committee (NCC). “We are seeing the fruit of our efforts and receiving international praise,” he added.
The Planning Minister announced dates on which various businesses and establishments would be allowed to reopen:
Education: All educational institutes will reopen on September 15. A review of the decision to reopen educational institutes on September 15 would be done on September 7.
Tourism: Asad Umar announced that all tourism spots and hotels will reopen in on August 8. The affiliated businesses have been instructed to follow all preventive measures to prevent coronavirus.
Restaurants (dine-in) & Cinemas: Restaurants and cafes, including dine-in will reopen on August 10. Parks, cinemas and theatres will also resume operations on August 10. The SOPs are currently being finalised and will be disclosed in two days.
Transport: All means of transportation is being resumed. There will no longer be any restrictions on the number of trains and planes operating. However, the SOPs should be followed.
Wedding halls and markets: The government is also holding discussions to reopen wedding halls from September 15. The timings of different shops will be reverted too.
Business centres and sports: All business centres, expo halls, beauty parlours, and spas will be reopened from August 10 too. The government has also given permission to hold events for non-contact sports from August 10. Indoor gyms and sports clubs will reopen on the same day too.
Giving details on the decision, Asad Umar informed that the sports activities will be allowed to resume without spectators. “Pillion-riding is also permitted while travelling in public transport while standing will not be allowed,” he added.
Referring to passengers, he said that restrictions on passengers in trains and planes will continue until September. “Passengers will be able to travel on the airplanes in a normal manner from October 1,” he informed.
The federal minister urged the people of Pakistan to follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in a bid to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. “The SOPs related to Muharram have been set up in consultation with the religious scholars,” he added.
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