Photo used for illustrative purpose.

Gulf Today Report

National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) Head and Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar on Thursday announced that all educational institutions would start normal classes from Monday (Oct.11).

"Based on the reduced level of COVID disease spread and the launch of the school vaccination programme, it has been decided in today’s NCOC meeting to allow all educational institutions to start normal classes from 11th October,” Umar said on Twitter.

Educational inquisitions were earlier operating on 50 per cent capacity across the country.

Earlier, the NCOC chief announced a relaxation of coronavirus restrictions in eight cities having the highest level of vaccination from Oct.1.

Addressing the press conference flanked by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan, the NCOC chief said it had been decided to relax restrictions from Oct.1 in eight cities where forty per cent population aged fifteen and above have been vaccinated against the COVID-19.

These cities include Skardu, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Islamabad, Quetta, Peshawar and Rawalpindi.

In addition, the minister had announced the reopening of shrines and cinema halls in these cities for the fully vaccinated people.

"Other cities will continue to face previous restrictions by 15th of this month,” the minister had announced. 

He had also announced placing restrictions on adults not fully vaccinated from Oct.1. Umar said the NCOC had set a target of vaccinating at least 40 per cent of eligible population (15 years and above) which had been met by the eight cities where the restrictions were being relaxed.

Schools were closed in the country soon after the pandemic reared its head in the country in March 2020.