ISLAMABAD: Pakistanis fear the festive spirit of Ramadan could fall flat this year due to the partial lockdown of the country over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Although Muslims will continue to celebrate the month of fasting, their daily routines are likely to change due to measures imposed to help stop the spread of the killer virus.
However, while many Muslim-majority countries have suspended congregational prayers to implement social distancing, Pakistan has given the go-ahead for mass gatherings in mosques after clerics threatened to violate restrictions on communal prayers.
Despite social distancing and self-isolation having proved critical in slowing the advance of COVID-19 in the country, the government agreed to the demands of religious leaders after they vowed to abide by a list of 20 conditions and safety measures during a meeting with President Arif Alvi.
Worshippers in mosques will be required to stay 6 feet apart, while children and those aged over 50 will pray at home.
But doctors in Pakistan have urged the government to reverse its decision, warning that the number of COVID-19 cases could significantly escalate over the coming days.
Dr. Qaiser Sajjad, secretary-general of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), told Arab News: “The PMA is concerned about the situation and we are worried that virus cases could go up because of mass gatherings. If the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah can suspend congregational prayers, why can’t we do the same in Pakistan?”
Ramadan will still be different in Pakistan this year. There has been no routine shopping ahead of the fasting month since markets and restaurants have been closed for several weeks in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. But some segments of society have already started to call on the government to lift lockdown restrictions.
In the past two weeks, Pakistan has witnessed a sharp increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases with the total number of recorded infections now running at 11,155, with 237 deaths. Experts fear rates could rise as the country prepares to increase its testing capacity to 25,000 per day by the end of this month.
