Citizens panic: Sindh govt backs down from decision to seal East Zone UCs

• Shah says deputy commissioner East has been asked to seal only affected alleys and streets of certain UCs.
• Complete lockdown is imposed in only those UCs where COVID-19 cases have been reported in large numbers.
• Minister says if an entire UC is sealed, it could create serious problems, both for the people and for the provincial government.

(Karachi) In a recent development, the Sindh government retracted its decision to seal several areas in District East, hours after issuing orders for a complete lockdown keeping in view the panic among citizens.

Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah said that the deputy commissioner East has been asked to seal only affected alleys and streets of certain Union Councils.

He said of the 11 UCs in District East, only those UCs are sealed and complete lockdown is imposed where the coronavirus cases have been reported in large numbers. Shah said that only those localities have been sealed which have been worst affected.

https://twitter.com/NasirShahOffice/status/1249071240112939008

He added that if an entire UC is sealed, it could create serious problems, both for the people and for the provincial government.

The minister mentioned the Inspector General of Police Sindh has also clarified that only some particular streets in District East will be completely shut after they were identified by authorities concerned. He maintained the police will only be deployed on such streets after their identification from the DIG and deputy commissioner.

Later, in a tweet Nasir Hussain Shah stated it was the foremost priority of the government to prevent coronavirus cases from rising . However, sealing entire UCs was bot a practical solution. He clarified only those streets will be sealed where there are infected COVID-19 patients.

Earlier, on the instruction of the chief minister, the deputy commissioner had sealed 11 union councils where more cases of Covid-19 were detected. These union councils included:

• UC-6 Gillani Railways
• UC-7 Dalmia
• UC-8 Jamali Colony
• UC-9 Gulshan II
• UC-10 Pehalwan Goth
• UC-12 Gulzar-e-Hijri
• UC-13 Safora
• UC-14 Faisal Cantt
• UC-2 Manzoor Colony
• UC-9 Jacob Line
• UC-10 Jamshed Quarters

The provincial government directed Karachi police and Rangers to cordon off the affected union councils.