Rush of motorists results in closure of Capital’s entry points

FAZAL SHER

ISLAMABAD: Following increase in the number of motorists on various roads, the district administration on Thursday closed all entry points and allowed only authorised persons into the capital city, to control the spread of the COVID-19.

The number of motorists had witnessed an increase on different roads of the city in spite of continued efforts of the district administration to limit people to their homes to control the spread of coronavirus during the last two days. The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Islamabad on April 1 said that the administration had decided to further tighten the lockdown.

The government on March 23rd called in the military in aid of the civil administration nationwide to avoid a potential sharp spike in the COVID-19 positive cases. The district administration imposed partial lockdown in the city following some people tested positive in some areas in the city after all provinces imposed complete lockdown.

In the wake of rapid increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the country up to 2,291, and in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in particular, heavy contingent of police and personnel of Rangers were deployed at all entry and exit points of the city to discourage entry of motorists who came out of their homes without any necessary work.

Police and Rangers erected special pickets at Faizabad, 9th Avenue, Sabzi Mandi Chowk, and Chungi 26.

Till the filling of this report, 107 coronavirus patients have so far recovered, and 31 have died.

Police in both the cities erected special pickets at different points to discourage rush on roads, and sent back home those who came out without any necessary work.

Majority of the shops in the major markets in both the cities including Aabpara, Karachi Company, Peshawar Mor, F-6 and F-7, I-8, G-10 Markaz, Commercial Market, Raja Bazaar, Pindora as well as several other smaller markets remain closed.

Shops including medical stores/pharmacies, bakeries, meat, milk, and grocery stores remained open.

The public transport has been banned, however, taxi drivers as well as some pick-up drivers managed to run their vehicles on traditional routes.

The teams of district administration of both the cities have continued price checking at different markets as well as at the fruit and Sabzi Mandi.

During inspection, several shopkeepers were penalised and heavy fines were imposed.

The district administration along with Bahria Town management continued disinfection spray in Shehzad Town and Bhara Kahu areas where some people were tested positive for coronavirus.

Earlier, the administration sealed of Bhara Kahu, Chak Shehzad and Ramsha Colony in Islamabad; some parts of Sadiqabad, a part of Dhoke Kashmirian and B-Block of Satellite Town in Rawalpindi; and Mohrah Akkrah near Sohawa, after detection of coronavirus cases.

Meanwhile, a man has been arrested for posing as a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officer and collecting funds to control the coronavirus.

The person has been handed over to the police for further investigation.

The suspect, identified as Arsalan, was going to people’s houses and claimed to be collecting funds for coronavirus relief.

A total of 11 people have been arrested for impersonating NAB officers and swindling money from people, according to the bureau’s notification