LAHORE: Punjab government’s home department Monday banned inter-province and inter-district movement of people.According to a letter available with The News, there will be complete ban on all within city, inter-district, inter-province movement of people by all means. There will be a complete ban on gatherings of all kinds for social, religious, or any other purpose of any place, public or private. All public and private offices will remain closed.

The letter reads, persons related to health services including hospitals, dispensaries, laboratories, and medical stores will be exempted. Journalists, media houses, hawkers, Wasa, Wapda, NTDC and DISCOs have been exempted too. Additionally, one family member can go out to purchase essential medicines and grocery. All large departmental stores will keep open their grocery section only after keeping social distancing, while other sections will remain closed.

Unavoidable religious rites like Namaz-e-Janaza, burial events provide that all precautions against spread of coronavirus are taken and safe distance of one metre (three feet) is maintained between people gathered in small numbers/close family members after prior intimation to Station House Officer (SHO) of the area.

These directions were issued by Additional Chief Secretary Home Momin Ali Agha to tackle the situation emerging in the wake of rising corona cases. According to the letter, this order will remain in force in the entire province of Punjab with effect from 9am Tuesday (24.3.20) till 9am Tuesday (7.4.20) until the order is modified.