RAWA LPINDI: All public and private educational institutions will remain closed on Friday due to the local government elections scheduled to be held on December 5.

District Coordination Officer (DCO), Sajid Zafar Dall issued a notification that schools, colleges and universities will be closed because of preparations for the elections.

He explained: `In all the government run schools in the city and its rural areas that have been declared as polling stations,teachers and otherstaffare busyinpreparingfor the elections, which is why it was decided that Friday will be a holiday for educational institutions`.

Law enforcers will check the polling stations thoroughly, after which they will be handed over to the election com-mission on Friday night, so that the polling material, and staff, can be transferred to them, he added.

The provincial government has already declared Saturday as a public holiday and all offices in the city will also be closed.

The DCO also said that Section 144 has been imposed in the district and that there was a ban on the display of arms and ammunition, including licensed arms. He added that the police have been asked to collect weapons from all the candidates.

`There will be a ban on gatherings within 300 yards of polling stations to avoid clashes between candidates and party workers,` Mr Dall said. A Reporter