Pakistan's Punjab government has decided to impose a complete lockdown in the province from May 8 to 15 in line with the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) decision to restrict movement of people during the Eid holidays amid rising COVID-19 cases.

The public transport and tourist destinations will remain closed during the holidays and police, rangers, and army personnel will be deployed at the checkpoints to be set up at the entry and exit points of all cities in the province, reported Dawn News.

The decision was taken during a meeting attended by health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid at the Punjab Civil Secretariat, IBNS said. 

Pharmacies, medical stores, medical facilities and vaccination centres, petrol pumps, food takeaways, utility services, media outlets, bakeries, small grocery and karyana stores, dairy, vegetable and fruit shops, tandoors, chicken and meat shops will remain open during the lockdown in order to facilitate the masses during the holidays, it was decided, reports Dawn News.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr Rashid was quoted as saying by Dawn News the next 15 to 20 days were very crucial in controlling the pandemic, urging the citizens to cooperate with the government to contain the spread of coronavirus and implement the SOPs.