RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The city district government with the assistance of police has, so far, sealed 1,812 shops and registered 714 first information reports (FIRs) for violating Punjab government’s issued guidelines to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.

“We have, so far, registered 714 FIRs and sealed 1,812 shops during the last 15 days for violating the Punjab government’s issued corona SOPs. At the same time, the police also checked 32,000 shops in 1,354 markets out of which 20,786 shopkeepers and citizens were given warnings over minor violations,” Capital City Police Officer Zulfiqar Hameed told reporters on Sunday.

To ensure ‘smart lockdown’, the CCPO said they have restricted the movements of citizens in 53 places to contain the spread of Covid-19, adding that security arrangements have also been tightened in these areas by strictly following the SOPs. “Citizens in the sealed areas are to be “educated” in a cordial manner and no obstruction was reported in the movements of groceries and other essential items including medicines,” he added.

The senior police officer continued that the citizens are being made to believe that the smart lockdown is for their safety while all the personnel have been directed to wear masks and adopt other precautionary measures.

“All the divisional officers have been made obligated to ensure the smart lockdown in their respective circles,” he said and appealed to the masses to wear facemasks while going outside as apparently it is the only way we can save ourselves and our loved ones.