The federal government in a notification announced the extension in lockdown till 31st May with exemptions for the construction sector as the businesses related to the sector will now be opened with the implementation of the SOPs, reported Pakistan Today.

In the first phase of the opening, steel, plastic pipe, electronic equipment, paint industries have been opened, while sanitary works and hardware shops would also remain open. Moreover, shops in small markets will remain open under the SOPs for five days in a week, while parks and tennis courts also allowed to remain open with compliance on the standard operating procedures, reported the newspaper.

General stores, bakeries, flour mills, dairy shops, meat shops, fruit shops and bread-makers shops will remain in operation from 9:00 in morning till 5:00 PM this week.

The tyre puncture shops, drivers’ hotels, filling stations and restaurants will remain open 24 hours, while postal carriers and pick and drop services will be opened from 9:00 in the morning till 5:00 PM, reports Pakistan Today.

However, shopping malls, large hotels, restaurants and educational institutions will remain shut.

Pakistan has been witnessing major rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the past couple of weeks.

There are 30,466 COVID-19 cases reported in the south Asian country.

Pakistan has so far registered 662 deaths due to COVID-19.