Peshawar administration starts fining people over not wearing facemasks

PESHAWAR: The district administration of Peshawar has initiated imposition of fines on citizens for not wearing facemasks while roaming in the city.

On Thursday, the district administration fined a citizen for Rs1,000 and started the practice of imposing fines on those violating the standard operating procedures (SOPs). The district administration said a citizen was not wearing facemask in Matani area due to which the assistant commissioner fined him. The receipt of the fine showed that he was fined for violating SOPs.

After relaxation of lockdown in Peshawar, a large number of people are now coming to different bazaars, markets and shopping plazas. Many people are seen throwing the precaution into the air and not following the government guidelines to avoid the spread of coronavirus. People are also not using sanitizers to keep their hands clean after contact with others. Very few people are seen observing social distancing. The violation of SOPs is particularly more in the rural areas where people are not observing social distancing during gatherings and in mosques.

Those who are following social distancing prefer to stay at home, but they are also facing danger from the virus from other people around them who are not following the SOPs. The government had to finally declare wearing of facemask mandatory and now the process of imposing fines on the violators of the SOPs.

OPDs of Lower Dir hospitals reopen

The out-patient departments (OPDs) of public sector hospitals in Lower Dir have been reopened after closure of 68 days.

On the first day of the OPDs reopening, a large number of patients came to hospitals for treatment. The OPDs have been reopened with instructions that SOPs must be followed.

District Headquarters Hospital Timergara Medical Superintendent Dr Shaukat Ali and other officials visited the hospital and oversaw the performance of the OPD. He expressed satisfaction over following of the SOPs at the hospital to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

The MS also met patients who came from different areas. He said the OPDs have been opened keeping in view the larger interest of people. He appealed to the people coming to hospitals to wear facemasks and also follow other SOPs to protect them and other people from the virus.