Rawalpindi   -  The district government has imposed a complete ban on tourism in Murree from May 8 to 16, as the third wave of the coronavirus intensifies across the country.

This decision has been taken in the light of meeting of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) where important decisions were taken by the body. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rawalpindi Capt (R) Anwaar Ul Haq Mughal and SSP Operations Rana Shohaib Mehmood said this at a joint presser here on Thursday.

They said the government had banned entry of all the tourists in Murree as per directions of NCOC from May 8 to 16. They said all the tourists who have planned to celebrate Eid in Murree should cancel their visit to hill station as the entry is banned by the government. They said the hotel owners and other businessmen in Murree have been taken on board by the government and they would not open hotels during lockdown.

Checkposts will be set up on the roads leading to Murree with deployment of 500 policemen and Rangers to maintain law and order situation, the said. The DC said the ratio of coronavirus patient went down due to effective lockdown. He said the district government is enjoying good relations with traders and the situation in Pakistan is quite different from India. He said had the people and traders followed SOPs the lockdown might have been lifted by the government. 

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner (AC) Saddar Mehar Ghulam Abbas, following the orders of DC, along with police have carried out raids at Adiala Road and held scores of shopkeepers and traders involved in violation of coronavirus SOPs.

All the detained persons have been shifted to Police Station Saddar Bairooni while AC had also issued violators the fine tickets.