Pakistan lifts all COVID-19 restrictions, mandatory vaccine regime to continue

Pakistani females wear face masks to help prevent exposure to the new coronavirus in Lahore on Mar 17, 2020. (Social Media/FILE)

• Pakistan lifts curbs on indoor and outdoor activities as vaccines rates increase, COVID-19 positivity ratio down
• Planning minister says Pakistan will “closely monitor” pandemic behaviour after lifting restrictions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan announced on Wednesday it was lifting all coronavirus restrictions on indoor and outdoor activities after a continuous decline in the rate of new infections. 

Pakistan has reported over 1.5 million coronavirus cases since February 2020, when the first case of the infection was reported in the country. Over the course of two years, Pakistan has suffered five waves of the pandemic, resulting in recurring lockdowns and restrictions placed on both indoor and outdoor activities.

Since February 26 this year, however, Pakistan has not reported more than 1,000 coronavirus infections in a day. Earlier this week, the South Asian country announced it had fully vaccinated over 100 million people against the infection.

“Today, we have decided to lift all coronavirus restrictions on indoor weddings, dining, restrictions on markets and outdoor events,” Asad Umar, the head of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan’s pandemic response body, said during a press briefing.

“We are ending restrictions placed on all events, including those relating to religion and sports,” he added.

He said the decision had been taken due to a drop in daily coronavirus cases, increased vaccination of the population and a decline in critical patients. Umar said Pakistan needed to resume normal life.

Umar, however, said individuals who hadn't been fully vaccinated would continue to face restrictions. He cited the example of travel bans placed on Pakistanis aged older than 12 who still hadn't been fully vaccinated, saying similar restrictions would continue to be placed on those who hadn't been fully vaccinated.

He said vaccine-related restrictions would stay in place till Pakistan achieved 80-85% complete vaccination of its population. Umar warned that the pandemic was not over, adding that the government would a check on the effects of its decision to lift restrictions.

“We will closely monitor the pandemic’s behavior after this decision,” he said. “We have two years of experience [in tackling coronavirus], we will see what decisions need to be taken.”