Pakistan to close educational institutions for two weeks

Pakistan announced on Wednesday that all educational institutions in cities worst hit due to the coronavirus pandemic will be closed down from March 15 for two weeks due to a surge in Covid-19 cases in the country. Addressing the media in Islamabad, Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood announced the decision  after the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) reviewed the coronavirus situation at educational institutions. Mahmood said institutions will be closed in seven cities of Punjab province, including Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Gujarat, Multan, Rawalpindi and Sialkot. He said educational institutions in Islamabad, Peshawar and Muzaffarabad will also be closed.

“All educational institutions will remain closed from March 15 to March 28 in specified cities and districts. Half of the students will keep attending classes in other districts,” Mahmood said. The minister said that all steps have to be taken while keeping in mind the nearly 50 million children that attend schools, colleges and universities. The authorities have also withdrawn their "earlier decision to lift all restrictions on gatherings in cinemas, indoor weddings, indoor dining, and public places," according to Faisal Sultan, special assistant to the prime minister on national health services.He added that coronavirus infections have been on the rise this month, prompting the authorities to reinstate the restrictions.