Prime Minister Imran Khan extended the lockdown to two weeks for schools and public places in order to further combat the coronavirus pandemic. Some industries such as Construction Industry will be exempted partially from this lockdown. Prime Minister has cleared that this decision has been made by a majority of 89% consensus of all the chief ministers and chief secretaries of Pakistan.
Federal Minister of Industries and Production Hammad Azhar explained who is exempted from two weeks extended lockdown after Imran Khan gave his final verdict.
Exempted Low Risk Industries under two weeks extended Lockdown
The following mentioned below have now been included in the exemption list from locked down:
- Chemical Manufacturing plants
- Construction Industry
- E-Commerce for export and essential E-Commerce locally
- Software Development Firms
- Paper and packaging
- Cement plants
- Mines and mining
- Fertilizer plants
- Washer man, dry cleaner and laundry services
- Industries that have labor on their premises
- Nurseries
- Machinery making units for agriculture
- Glass manufacturing
- Veterinary Services
- Books and Stationery Stores
- Export Industries with export orders verified by trade boards
- Electricians, Plumbers, Barbers, Tailors, hawkers and Vendors are to be opened in Islamabad, KPK and Punjab only. (Other provinces did not agree to open)
This is an ongoing process, and Government will review before Ramadan and see what else can be included in the exemption list.
Construction sectors to be opened in phases:
- Bricks, cement, crushing plants, pre-fabricated materials and other fundamentals will be opened immediately in Phase 1
- Construction sites will be opened immediately in KPK and Punjab. Baluchistan Sindh and GB have different opinions
SOP’s have been made for all the industries to be opened today.