Corps Commander terms overcoming corona pandemic a national challenge
Amraiz Khan
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar chaired the provincial apex committee meeting at his office to take stock of the corona situation in the province.
The meeting was attended by Lahore Corps Commander Lt-Gen Muhammad Abdul Aziz, GOC 10 Division Maj-Gen Muhammad Aniqur Rehman Malik, Punjab Rangers DG Maj-Gen Muhammad Amir Majeed, Law Minister Raja Basharat, Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid, SACM Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Chief Secretary Jawwad Malik, IG Police Inam Ghani, ACS (Home) and high ranking civil and military officials.
The participants expressed serious concern over the rising number of corona cases and death rate in different cities including Lahore and expressed reservations over the lack of effective implementation of SOPs.
The participants extended sympathies to bereaved heirs and appreciated the role of health professionals.
The commitment was shown to utilize every possible resource to save the people from coronavirus.
It was decided to ensure strict enforcement of corona SOPs and the proposal of complete lockdown in Lahore and other cities, having increased number of positive corona cases, were reviewed.
It was also decided to further severe restrictions in cities with more than an 8 per cent ratio.
The meeting reviewed the proposal of using hospitals only for corona in Lahore and other major cities.
The meeting further decided to take every possible step to ensure the supply of oxygen and the participants agreed that violation of steps, aimed at saving the lives of the people, will not be tolerated.
The military leadership assured full cooperation to the civil government for implementation of SOPs to deal with the corona pandemic.
The meeting further agreed to take collective measures to implement the decisions and closing-time of markets and bazaars will be ensured through administrative steps.
The CM thanked the military leadership for its cooperation adding that more than 2,600 corona cases have been reported in Punjab and 127 have lost their lives during the last 24 hours. The positive cases ratio is increased to 13 per cent in Punjab.
All business activities will remain closed from 6 PM to Sehri except medical stores, petrol pumps, vaccination centres and other essential services.
He added that vaccination has been expedited as more than 40,000 people have been vaccinated yesterday. A total of one million have been vaccinated in Punjab, he added.
The CM made it clear that legal action will be taken over overcharging or hoarding of oxygen cylinders.
Meanwhile, the recruitment of vaccinators and data entry operators has been approved and doctors and nurses will also be recruited if needed. Health professionals will be given a special allowance like before.
The CM declared that private hospitals will be bound to reserve beds for corona patients and they will not be allowed to overcharge the corona patients. The healthcare commission has been directed to take steps in this regard, he added.
Corps Commander Lt-Gen Muhammad Abdul Aziz stated that overcoming the spread of the corona pandemic is a national challenge and the army is ever-ready to assist the civil administration.
The civil administration will be assisted in the implementation of the corona action plan and the army is standing with the people in this hour of trial, he continued.
Meanwhile, CM Usman Buzdar said the apex committee has taken important decisions after a detailed review of steps for saving the lives of the people.
The role of the health professionals is praised and it has been decided to strictly implement corona SOPs.
It was mutually agreed to further strict restrictions in cities where the positive cases’ ratio is more than 8 per cent.
A cabinet committee for anti-corona, consisting of provincial ministers and civil and military officials, is constituted to take decisions after a daily review.
