Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar will inaugurate ‘Governor Punjab Telemedicine Helpline Centre’ today (Monday).
In the first phase, more than 150 doctors will be available to guide the people about coronavirus hazards and its preventions at the call centre round the clock. In a statement issued by Governor House here on Sunday, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar said that political and religious parties as well as nation’s resolve to get united to control coronavirus is highly commendable.
“I am sure that when we will fulfill our responsibility to control corona then we will succeed in preventing ourselves from this virus.” He said that main objective of closure of Punjab and other cities the country, markets, shopping centers and other public places, is to protect the people from this pandemic. Since government or any institution alone cannot cope with coronavirus, so 220 million Pakistanis will have to play their part because Pakistan cannot afford any laxity against deadly corona.
He said that Governor Punjab Telemedicine Helpline Centre will be operational from Monday (today). The doctors will remain at the helpline centre for 24 hours to conduct people’s online medical checkup and provide them complete awareness about corona. “I am glad to note that corona telemedicine helpline centers at University of Health Sciences (UHS), Services Hospital, Punjab University and other places are working very efficiently as thousands of people are getting advisories against corona on daily basis. People are now receiving advisories and prevention at their homes instead of rushing to hospitals just because of these telemedicine centres, he said and added that the persons requiring corona tests are also being helped out actively.
Punjab governor mentioned that only 16 persons out of 10,500 have been advised to get corona tests in the first batch of corona telemedicine helpline centre at University of Health Sciences Lahore. He said, “I know, many people are the poor and facing livelihood earning problems but we will not leave them alone rather provide free monthly ration in collaboration with Punjab Development Network, to the poor persons, whose livelihood earnings/jobs are affected in the wake of coronvirus crisis. We all have to make a pledge to fulfill our responsibilities at all costs in the war against coronavirus
APSUP demands bailout plan for private universities
The Association of Private Sector Unive rsities in Punjab (APSUP) on Sunday requested the PM for an educational relief package for private universities.
APSUP has written a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan seeking bailout plan for private universities. The letter stated, ‘In this time of National Emergency where everything is moving towards a lock down, our students are bearing the burden with all stakeholders of the education sector’.
It further stated, ‘Higher Educational institutions in general and private ones in particular have risen to the occasion as a national effort. In this situation we have put in place multiple alternative pedagogies and technologies to ensure that students, along with their education, do not suffer. Teachers are engaged with students through online methodology and all the course work is being covered without any loss. This being taken as an opportunity out of a challenge and feel that if sufficient resources and related rules/regulations are put in place by the Government in terms of facilitation to the private sector this effort can be extended successfully even after this emergency situation.
It said that in this hour of need private sector universities are standing with you to combat the COVID’ 19. Your every action will be taken up as our national duty but during this lock down we need to support our staff so that they can easily feed their families without worries and stand shoulder to shoulder with us throughout this difficult time.
It is the time to rise as a Nation and the following points should help us in strengthening our stance as government relief and will surely protect us from financial bankruptcy.
1. Your Excellency, Teachers are a valuable asset of any Nation and they should be given top priority in everything you do. In this critical situation teachers are meeting expectations so the Government should help us in making arrangements to give salaries to teaching and non teaching staff of private universities during this lock down period.
2. NEPRA should waive off 50% of their bills for all private universities during the lockdown.
3. All direct and indirect government taxes of private universities including annual fee/ charges of Regulatory/accreditation bodies should be waived off for this financial year.
4. The private universities which have taken loans from commercial banks should also be given financial relaxation. The government should direct commercial banks to reschedule such loans during this lock down.
5. Special long-term interest free loans should be offered to private sector universities to mitigate the financial impact of the crisis.
Your facilitation of the education sector will strengthen us and give financial cover which will ultimately help us in providing financial assistance to the people who matter.
