The rapid spread of speculation relating to a potential lockdown in Pakistan has caused confusion and alarm amongst citizens who are already enduring hardships due to the ongoing fuel crisis. There are numerous reports being circulated both via social media as well as some media outlets indicating that the government intends on imposing a so-called “Smart Lockdown” during weekends only.
Some of these posts have gone as far as to suggest that a lockdown had already been announced. This information has travelled widely while people were waiting at Long queues at petrol filling stations and experiencing visible Fuel shortages throughout various areas of the country.
Minister Issues Clarification
Through out this time of confusion and uncertainty, Government officials were able to clarify matters regarding the purported lockdown. Government officials announced that they have not made any final decision concerning the reported “Lockdown” or restrictions; however, that there have been some discussions regarding proposed restrictions/lockdowns.
Government officials stated that as long as people continue to circulate unverified (unfounded) information about possible lockdown/restrictions, it will continue to add to people’s current anxiety level, which makes an already difficult situation even worse for everyone involved.
The Plan for the ‘Smart Lockdown’ Proposed That
A draft plan proposing a possible weekend “smart lockdown” includes the following: the proposed lockdown would begin at midnight Saturday, concluding at midnight Sunday.
If this plan had been enforced, all markets, shops, offices and other commercial establishments would have been closed, and no social gatherings, including weddings and other celebrations, would be allowed to occur. The proposal also included closing down roadways as well as limiting the ability of people to travel in cars, while allowing a limited amount of public transport to operate.
The Fuel Crisis Is the Reason for the Proposed Lockdown
Discussions surrounding any new lockdowns in Pakistan are driven in part by the recently worsening fuel crisis in Pakistan. Due to the rise of crude futures prices around the world, Pakistan is experiencing fuel shortages because it is unable to import enough gasoline and diesel products.
The unrest happening in the Middle East has impacted oil supply routes, resulting in higher prices for gasoline and diesel, and since Pakistan relies on imported fuel more than many other nations, it is feeling the effects of this crisis more acutely than many other countries.
Government Response and Solutions to Economic Stress
A variety of recent events have prompted the need for more aggressive measures from various levels of government. Examples include cutting back on fuel consumption, slashing government spending, and rolling out energy-saving initiatives (by way of shortened work weeks and closing schools) to name a few.
While these efforts may seem extreme, they demonstrate the seriousness of the current situation; however, the decision to avoid further attempts to restrict individual freedoms (by placing regions under some form of quarantine) remains under consideration.
Khalid Qasid is a media enthusiast with a strong interest in documentary filmmaking. He holds a Master’s degree in Convergent Journalism from AJK MCRC. He has also written extensively on esports at Sportsdunia. Currently, he covers world and general news at NewsX Digital.
