Laborers work to build a road as authorities relax the government-imposed lockdown in Lahore, Pakistan, on Thursday. AP

Tariq Butt, Correspondent

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced on Thursday that the lockdown will be lifted in phases starting from Saturday (May 9).

"The decision has been made because people are suffering,” he said in a televised address after a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC). He was accompanied by his cabinet members.

Imran said that public transport will remain shut over provinces' reservations. "I believe public transport should be reopened because it is the common man's mode of transport but the provinces have reservations. We do not want to take decisions unless there is unanimity."

He urged people to take responsibility, saying that the success of the next phase depends on people following the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the government.

The premier added that whoever leaves his home and all industries that are allowed to reopen will have to follow the SOPs [standard operating procedures]. He warned that if people failed to follow them and cases spiked, the government would be forced to enforce the lockdown again.

Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood, who was present on the occasion, said that all schools, universities and other educational institutions will remain closed till July 15.

He added that all board exams have been cancelled. "We will pass/fail students based on their results from the previous year. Students' health and their education cannot be compromised," he said.

Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar revealed six major decisions the government has taken regarding lifting of restrictions. These are more sectors related to construction will be opened; selected OPDs will be opened to treat specific diseases and illnesses; markets will open after sehri but close at 5pm; markets will remain closed for two days per week; small markets will also be allowed to open; and reopening of schools has been delayed.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yusuf clarified that not all of the stranded nationals being flown back to the country are testing positive for the coronavirus. "This is a misconception. Please do not stigmatise those returning to the country."

He added that the government was in the process of talking to those countries from where 40 to 50 per cent of the returning passengers had tested positive.
The premier's focal person on coronavirus Dr Faisal Sultan said that the number of COIVD-19 cases in Pakistan is rising because of increased testing capacity.

He said that the country's coronavirus trajectory is "slower than other countries". He added that there is now enough data for Pakistan to create its own projection models.

Sultan added that there was also a need to highlight other diseases that could be missed because of the coronavirus pandemic.