Covid-19 outbreak: Federal government departments either closed or keeping skeleton staff

With increase in coronavirus cases in the federal capital, the federal government departments are making precautionary arrangements against this pandemic with some departments completely closed, while others maintaining skeleton staff to take care of official matters.

The Petroleum Division (Ministry of Energy) located in Pak Secretariat as well as three floors of Petroleum House have been temporarily closed, after a third case of coronavirus was detected among the officials of the Petroleum Division, and its attached departments.

"The competent authority has been pleased to direct all officers/officials housed at third floor of A Block and officers/officials housed at first three floors of Petroleum House to work from home for 14 and 15 April. The office will resume from April 16," said an office order issued here.

Within less than a week, three cases of coronavirus have been detected in the Petroleum Division. The spokesman of the Petroleum Division stated that the Petroleum House situated at G-5 Islamabad was closed after first case of coronavirus was detected there.

Officials of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development also vacated the Kohsar Block of its secretariat after a suspected case of coronavirus was reported.

In a notification issued by the ministry, all the employees were issued orders to vacate the Kohsar block immediately. According to the notification, the Kohsar block of the Secretariat will remain closed from April 14 to April 16, and the ministry's employees are working from homes.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) also stopped inspection of documents/record of companies and announced continuation of closure of its Company Registration Offices (CROs) across Pakistan.

According to the SECP's circular number 13 of 2020 issued, the commission announced preventive measures against the COVID-19. Ministry of Law and Justice has also partially closed its offices after suspected cases of coronavirus, sources said.

Steps that various government departments have taken as a prevention against coronavirus include, exemption from biometric attendance, exemption to female employees from attending offices, exemption to male employees of 50 years of age or above from attending offices, and exemption to all those employees from attending offices, who are suffering from any kind of flu, fever or any other related ailment involving viral or bacterial infections.

In addition, several public dealing departments including those of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGIP), Driving Licensing Branch of Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP), Excise and Taxation Department and Pakistan Railways have been closed for public dealing.

Moreover, certain federal government public dealing departments such as the Pakistan Baitul Mal, the Pakistan Post, the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the Chief Commissioner's Office, the Deputy Commissioner's Office and their attached offices, are open but their operations have been restricted.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is discussing the ECP's functioning in the backdrop of serious threat posed by the coronavirus. Earlier, all the female officers of the commission and the subordinate female staff were exempted from attending the offices till April 6.