Pakistan to lift mosque restrictions during Ramadan

Pakistan to lift mosque restrictions during Ramadan...

Pakistan will lift restrictions on mass gathering at mosques for prayers during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Pakistani President Arif Alvi announced on Sunday.

Congregational prayers will be held but strict disciplinary measures will be in place to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, Alvi said.

Ramadan this year is expected to begin at sundown on April 23.

After a consultation with the country’s top religious scholars, the president released a 20-point action plan. This includes measures such as requiring people to wear masks in mosques and providing a police presence there to ensure social distancing is in place.

Alvi added that the government would review and change any part of its policy on mosques during Ramadan if these measures were not being followed or if the number of cases were to rise exponentially.

The number of diagnosed Coronavirus cases as of Sunday in Pakistan was 7,993, with 159 deaths, according to the country’s health ministry.