LAHORE: Punjab Minister for School Education Murad Raas has said the government is closely monitoring the Covid-19 pandemic situation in the province and will make a decision about closure of schools after checking the data.

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and education ministers of all the provinces held a meeting on Nov 16 and decided that educational institutions across the country would not be closed yet. The participants also decided to hold another meeting on Nov 23 to decide whether or not to announce winter vacation. The education ministers of all provinces agreed that markets and businesses should be closed first, not educational institutions.

On increasing pressure from different quarters, Mr Raas on Saturday tweeted: If I close the Schools people are not happy. If I keep the schools open people are not happy. Let me just inform everyone that a decision will be made on DATA that is being given to me. Lives matter the most. Zero pressure on me from either side. Sensible decisions have to be made.”

Earlier in the day, Special Assistant to Punjab Chief Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the government would not go for a complete lockdown. A micro smart lockdown would be imposed in areas most affected by the virus.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2020