Sindh schools will be the last to be allowed to reopen: Saeed Ghani

KARACHI: A meeting of the Sindh education department's steering committee under provincial minister Saeed Ghani decided on Tuesday that teaching would not be allowed in any public or private educational institutions across the province.

However, private educational institutions were permitted to start online education. All of these schools must fully comply with SOPs, Sindh Education Minister Ghani added.

He said there was no final decision as yet on the reopening of schools in the province as the coronavirus cases continued to rise all over Pakistan.

According to Geo News, Ghani said the schools would be the last places to be reopened in the province. Parents would not send children to schools in the current situation, he added.

On the issue of permitting public transport on roads, the Sindh minister said the matter was under consideration and would be approved along with standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The Sindh home department had on Monday extended the provincial lockdown until June 30, keeping in view the worrying rise in the virus cases. A formal notification was also issued in this regard.

A notification issued from Sindh Home Department said: "Business timings except pharmacies and essential services — Five days per week (Monday-Friday) from Morning to Maghreb (6:00 am to 7:00 pm)."

The move to reopen businesses in the province is part of Sindh's adherence to the Supreme Court's directive to formulate a uniform policy with regard to the coronavirus lockdown.

Earlier, Ghani had said schools may not reopen for another six months and a new online curriculum would soon be introduced as Pakistan continues to grapple with the coronavirus outbreak.

As of today, Sindh has recorded more than 29,000 cases and above 500 deaths.