COVID-19: Punjab
Punjab has seen the largest spike in confirmed novel coronavirus cases, reporting up to 500 cases in a day.
Despite declaring a health emergency on March 13, the provincial government was slow to gauge the seriousness of the pandemic as it allowed a large religious congregation at a time when experts were urging social distancing.
On March 21, CM Usman Buzdar announced a three-day lockdown to slowdown the outbreak.
However, following the federal government's directives to resume life, the authorities are struggling to ensure SOP implementation.
Follow our coverage of government’s measures and the COVID-19 epidemiological outlook.
July 27: Strict lockdown imposed ahead of Eid
July 21: 41 blood banks sealed
July 21: Smart lockdown imposed in four cities
July 17: Normalcy returns to jails after Covid scare
July 13: Covid-19 cases drop 50%
July 10: 29 cattle markets allowed
July 6: Govt accepts 48 doctors' resgination
July 3: Virus hotspots unsealed in Lahore
July 2: Recruits visits families during Covid duty
June 30: Outdoor facilities for Covid pateints
June 29: Smart lockdown affects Lahore traffic flow
June 28: Illegal plasma sale thrives
June 25: Lockdown extended to posh areas in Lahore
June 24: Punjab faces medicine shortage
June 23: Public hospitals run out of space
June 23: Oxygen price hiked
June 21: UHS to estimate virus cases from sewages
June 21: Garment stalls reappear amid lockdown
June 20: Covid patients avoid hospital
June 10: Smart lockdown anomalies irks citizens
June 19: Section 144 imposed to curb public movement
June 18: Pandemic to cost Punjab 5m lives
June 17: App launched to help citizens avail virus treatment
June 16: Covid-19 hotspots sealed in Lahore
June 15: Over 60 patients succumb to virus
June 14: Markets defy weekend closure rule
June 12: Hospitals buckle under pressure
June 10: Small restaurants offer dine-in secretly
June 9: Dead trader wrongly termed virus victim
June 8: Over 7K beds reserved for Covid-19 patients
June 7: Commuters without masks face tasing
June 6: Police jump the gun on Covid-19 fight
June 5: Govt to crackdown on SOP violators
June 5: Health authorities warn against needless testing
June 3: 'Flawed' policies exposed policemen to virus
June 3: Panicked family abondons victim's body
June 2: 300 expats shifted to quarantine centre
June 2: Lahore epicentre of virus outbreak
May 31: Govt may fine no-mask wearers
May 31: Covid-19 infections spike after Eid
May 30: Punjab proposes 50-guests limit for weddings
May 29: Major markets won't open on Fridays
May 28: Govt allows restaurants, resorts to open
May 27: Tough days ahead for zoos
May 27: Confusions over market hours
May 24: Tenants strggle to survive in virus-hit economy
May 23: Covid-19 patients allowed to meet families
May 21: Markets allowed to stay open till 10pm
May 20: Shortage of products mars Lahore's markets
May 19: Lockdown bites poor despite ease
May 19: Two bankers test positive for Covid-19
May 19: Shopping spree ahead of Eid in Lahore
May 18: Public transport partially restored
May 17: Grave-diggers charge double over increased risk
May 17: Govt reopning industries
May 16: Inter-distrcit transport allowed
May 15: 16 Govt allows reopening malls
May 15: Govt leaves transporters in a stew
May 15: Police seal Youm-e-Ali route
May 14: Public confused by policy on markets
May 14: Rising cases test hospitals capacity
May 13: Govt blamed for surge in virus risk
May 13: Lahore sees long queues of shoppers
May 12: Citizens throng to markets for Eid shopping
May 12: Over 285 cases confirmed in Punjab police dept
May 11: Ban on gatherings fails to stop Iftars
May 11: Bureaucracy sticks to video-link
May 10: Shopkeepers, customers ignore social distancing
May 10: Punjab allows home isolation with SOPs
May 9: 47 prisoners in Punjab infected with Covid-19
May 9: Punjab govt draws flak on anti-virus strategy
May 7: Patients, families unclear about test results
May 7: Covid-19 spread in jails could spell disaster
May 6: 86% citizens approves govt policies
May 6: Punjab fails to bring donated PPE from China
May 5: Graveyard sought for Covid-19 victims
May 5: Hotels offer luxury isolation
May 3: Lockdown relaxation leaves Punjab govt anxious
May 3: 297,070 locations disinfected to curb virus
May 2: Breadwinners switch professions to survive the pandemic
May 2: Shops, kiosks violate lockdown timings
May 1: Beds set aside for children a Nishtar Hospital
May 1: Biometric system fails to identify 1000s under Ehsaas Cash Programme
May 1: Most callers on helpline seek ration
April 30: Covid-19 takes a toll on Punjab Police
April 30: Bars won’t stop spread in prisons
April 29: Punjab stops setting up disinfect gates
April 29: SHO tests positive in Lahore
April 29: Coronavirus cases surge in Multan
April 29: Labour groups give govt 3 days to reopen factories
April 28: Changing lockdown policies confuses police
April 27: Overseas Pakistanis tested in Faisalabad
April 26: LEAs ordered to intensify travel ban
April 26: Virus tally among Punjab police reaches 21
April 26: Punjab GDP may shed $20b if lockdown exceeds
April 26: Thalassemia patients at risk as blood stock depletes
April 25: LGH to continue 24/7 helpline in Ramazan
April 25: Central lab conducts 2K tests daily
April 24: Lockdown: Import delays smart card production
April 24: Pandemic may leave 4 million jobless in Punjab
April 24: Punjab likely to extend lockdown
April 22: Committee formed to control pandemic in Multan
April 22: Punjab minister announces reduced school fee without legal knowledge
April 23: Photo-ops at cash handouts irks LHC
April 23: Hoarders to face three-year jail term
April 22: Another police officer tests positive for Covid-19
April 22: Factories to reopen under surveillance
April 21: Transport ban hampers construction industry
April 21: Pre-Ramazan price hike takes Lahore by storm
April 20: Transgenders struggle as Covid-19 shuts life
April 20: Safari Park’s 14 lions sold due to lack of food
April 19: Lockdown deprives workers of livelihood
April 19: Recoveries tally increasing steadily
April 19: Covid-19 infections continue to multiply in Multan
April 18: Buzdar urges legislators to monitor relief measures
April 18: Shujabad jail doctor tests positive for Covid-19
April 18: LG&CD urges proper disposal of masks, gloves
April 18: Shopkeepers circumvent lockdown curbs
April 18: South Punjab seeks increase in virus testing capacity
April 18: Worshippers defy virus fear, govt ban
April 18: Animals also at risk amid lockdown
April 18: Over Rs550m disbursed among 45,384 women
April 17: Flower farmers suffer losses
April 17: Woman lured for ration, ‘raped’ in Kokianwala
April 17: Punjab may face food shortages and price hikes in Ramazan
April 17: Punjab's new lockdown SOPs leave barbers in quandary
April 17: Covid-19 cases surge in Faisalabad
April 16: Lockdown exemptions cause confusion in Punjab
April 16: Many face starvation as donations at shrines stop
April 15: Punjab govt mulls scraping Ramazan Bazaar plan
April 15: Buzdar aims 10,000 tests a day
April 14: Baisakhi celebrated in a simple ceremony
April 14: Punjab bureaucracy operates remotely
April 14: Punjab issues varying figures about virus patients
April 14: Punjab zoos step up COVID-19 precautions
April 14: Local factories capture protective gear market
April 14: Corona mental health telemedicine helpline launched
April 14: Punjab govt employees back employees
April 14: Virus cases rise
April 11: Hospitals allocate isolation wards
April 11: Virus cases continue to rise
April 11: 30 centres set up across Lahore for cash distribution
April 11: Blame game over Multan quarantine centre continues
April 10: Govt unveils relief package for journalists
April 10: 3,500 prisoners to be shifted
April 10: COVID-19 requires special care, says Buzdar
April 9: 97,000 families to get Rs12,000 each
April 9: Essential services exempted from travel curbs
April 8: Cash distribution plan finalised
April 8: Changing lockdown rules leave officials confused
April 8: OPD reopens at DHQ, Allied hospitals
April 8: Hafizabad prison to house Lahore inmates
April 8: 40m citizens apply for govt help
April 7: Man comes closer to pet lion during pandemic
April 7: District jail declines to accept prisoners
April 7: COVID-19 positive doctors damage property
April 7: 19 Attock natives quarantined
April 7: Punjab govt bans relief work by charities
April 6: Lockdown makes life unbearable
April 6: Multan quarantine to host 1,700 pilgrims
April 5: Essential items disappear from market
April 5: Industries with export orders to resume operations
April 4: Govt finalises distribution plan
Apr 3: 'Make citizens walk home as punishment'
April 2: LHC launches email system for bails
April 1: Social distancing extended to police
Mar 31:Pakistan's first walkthrough sanitiser gate
March 31: Families wary of delay in medical reports
March 27: Punjab overtakes Sindh in COVID-19 cases
March 25: Punjab to recruit 10,000 doctors
March 23: Punjab extends lockdown
March 21: Punjab announces 3-day lockdown
March 20: Punjab bans social gatherings at home
March 19: Punjab govt bans inter-provincial public transport heading towards Sindh
March 13: Punjab declares health emergency
Produced by: Niha Dagia
Artwork: Ibrahim Yahya, Mohsin Alam