ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) has announced to ease restrictions following the decline in the coronavirus cases amid the fourth wave of pandemic. The meeting chaired by Asad Umar, head of the National Command and Operations Center, reviewed the coronavirus situation in detail across the country and important decisions were taken. According to the NCOC, educational institutions across the country will be opened from September 16, with 50 per cent attendance and classes will be held on alternative days. According to a notification issued by the NCOC, markets across the country will remain open till 10 pm except in the districts with increased cases, while indoor and outdoor dining will be allowed till 12 pm. Indoor events will be allowed up to 200 vaccinated people while 400 vaccinated people will be allowed to attend outdoor events. According to the notification, full attendance and normal working hours have been allowed in the offices while cinemas will remain closed, restrictions on karate, boxing, kabaddi and water sports will remain in place but gyms with 50 per cent capacity will remain open for vaccinated people. The notification said that the trains would run with 70 per cent passengers while the travel policy for those coming to Pakistan from abroad would be maintained. Five districts of Punjab Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Sargodha and Gujrat while Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been declared as high risk areas. The NCOC said that the situation in the high-rate districts of coronavirus would be reviewed on September 21 and further decisions would be taken in the review meetings on a daily basis in view of the situation.
