Punjab Minister of Information Fayyazul Hassan Chohan said on Monday that a strict ban would be imposed across the province from Monday midnight to next Wednesday (August 5).
The provincial minister added that the same Eidul Fitr SOPs would also be implemented on Eidul Azha. The question of the reopening of restaurants and theaters will be discussed after Muharram, he added.
The proposal to close the markets was made by the provincial health minister, Dr. Yasmeen Rashid, who was unanimously approved by the Punjab Government's Anti-Coronavirus Committee.
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The master of primary and secondary health, Muhammad Usman, is scheduled to release a review today.
On July 26, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Health (SAPM), Dr. Zafar Mirza that a gradual decrease in coronavirus cases across the country could be reversed in the near future if people fail to take health precautions during and for Eidul Azha.
"We will certainly face challenges for Eidul Azha and Ashura that could lead to a further increase in the coronavirus outbreak," said Mirza as he addressed a media outlet in Islamabad.
Referring to examples of Covid-19's re-emergence in several countries, SAPM warned that Pakistan could be in a similar situation if "people act the same way as Eidul Fitr".
He referred to an exponential increase in the number of cases after the government eased restrictions before the evening of late Ramazan in May.
Pakistan begins celebrating Eidul-Azha on August 1, while Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is expected to start on August 20 when the moon is seen.
Mirza said the number of virus-related deaths has dropped by 80 percent in recent weeks. However, he warned that public meetings and failure to take precautionary measures could ruin "implementation".
