On Thursday, National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) announced that all motorways are being closed for passenger traffic in order to contain the novel coronavirus from spreading.
The public notice was issued on NMPH’s official twitter account emphasizing that entry of all public service vehicles shall be prohibited on all motorways.
The Motorway M1 from Peshawar to Islamabad, M2 from Islamabad to Lahore, M3 from Faisalabad to Pindi Bhatian, M4 from Faisalabad to Gojra, M5 from Multan to Sukkur, M9 Karachi-Hyderabad and M-11 Lahore to Sialkot motorway has been closed for all kinds of traffic.
The decision comes in right after Sindh and Punjab have imposed a lockdown for 15 days amid the rapid spread of the virus in the region.
Entry of Public Service Vehicles (PSV) shall be prohibited on all motorways.@MuradSaeedPTI, @ImranKhanPTI, @zfrmrza, @nhrscpk, @OfficialDPRPP, @ICT_Police, @KP_Police1, @sindhpolicedmc #covid19 pic.twitter.com/vkOBcwSbhy
— National Highways & Motorway Police (NHMP) (@NHMPofficial) March 27, 2020
However, transportation of essential items required for survival during the pandemic such as medical supplies, fresh produce, food items, emergency equipment, fuel will be allowed to go through the routes.
It is greatly emphasized that these carriers must travel with the minimum crew as chances of the virus spreading city to city will increase if huge amounts of people travel across the country by road.
Only in case of emergency, private vehicles may be allowed to travel given that only 2 people can travel in the same vehicle.
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