FAZAL SHER

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration on Wednesday extended imposition of Section 144 till April 30 in order to control spread of the deadly coronavirus.

According to a notification issued by the district administration, in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, the administration has imposed Section 144 under CrPC on March 24 on public gatherings and social distancing, which was extended till April 30, with all the exemptions given from time to time by the office of the district magistrate.

Huge rush of motorists was witnessed at most of the roads of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi following government decision to lift ban on construction and some other sectors including hardware, books, stationery and barber shops.

Majority of the shops, garments, cosmetics and others in the major markets in both the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi 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 remained close.

The number of coronavirus cases rose in the federal capital on Wednesday to 140, bringing the country’s tally of the Covid-19 infections to 5,988, according to the official data.

According to the official data, Punjab has 2,945 cases followed by Sindh 1,518, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 865, Balochistan 240, Gilgit-Baltistan 234, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) 46. Till the filling of this report, 1,446 coronavirus patients have so far recovered, and 107 have died across the country. The ICT Administration continued distribution of ration and disinfection spray in the various parts of the city.