ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The National Security Committee (NSC) which met in Islamabad on Friday with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Chair to formulate a strategy to deal with the impending threat of Coronavirus (COVID-19), it was decided to close all educational institutions across the Country till April 5, 2020.
In a Twitter statement, the Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood said that as per the decision of the NSC, all educational institutions including all public and private schools, colleges and universities, vocational institutions and madaris will be closed from tomorrow.
Shafqat Mahmood further said that the situation regarding the closure of all educational institutions in the Country would be reviewed by the Ministry of Education on March 27 and further decisions will be taken.
The minister further said that many people have expressed concern regarding the ongoing 9th Class Examination in Punjab, and added that respective schools and boards shall ensure that arrangements are made for the examination to be taken as per schedule.
Pakistan Day Parade on March 23 Cancelled
In addition, the National Security Committee Meeting also decided to cancel the upcoming Pakistan Day Parade on March 23.
The NSC meeting was attended by the Provincial Chief Ministers, Federal Ministers, Chiefs of Armed Forces, and the Director-General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed.
The meeting dwelt at length on measures to tackle the imminent threat of Coronavirus, and made the above decisions.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Punjab Minister for Schools Education Murad Raas said that due to the Pandemic Coronavirus, all provincial schools will remain closed from March 14 to April 5, 2020.
Due to the Pandemic #Coronavirus Schools in Punjab will be closed starting Sunday March 15th, 2020 to Sunday April 5, 2020. Health of our Children & honourable Teachers are priority #1. At the end of the day it’s better to be safe than sorry.
— Murad Raas (@DrMuradPTI) March 13, 2020
Educational institutions under FDE to remain closed till April 10
However, in line with the already issued spring vacation’s schedule and to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the students and public at large, the educational institutions working under the ambit of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) in Islamabad shall remain closed until April 10, 2020 and shall re-open on April 13, 2020.
Sources said that it has also been decided in the NSC meeting that all the borders will remain shut down for the next 15 days.
They said that all airports in Pakistan except Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad have been closed down for international flights. Besides, a ban has also been imposed on all large gatherings across the Country.
Sources further said that it has been decided that a National Communication Center will be set-up at the Ministry of Health to monitor the Coronavirus.
کرونا وائرس کی بڑھتی ہوئی وبا کو مد نظر رکھتے ہوئے اراکین پارلیمنٹ، پارلیمنٹ سٹاف اور دیگر کی حفاظت کو مدنظر رکھتے ہوئے چیئرمین سینیٹ محمد صادق سنجرانی نے ایوان بالاء کی کمیٹیوں کے اجلاس، تقریبات و پارلیمانی اجتماعات کو دو ہفتوں کے لئے منسوخ کر دیا۔ #CoronaOutbreak pic.twitter.com/c0JZ4pTNJR
— Senate of Pakistan (@SenatePakistan) March 13, 2020
