Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has said that the polio-free Punjab is a mission of government and no leniency will be tolerated in this regard.
He was presiding over a meeting of Anti-Polio Task Force at his office on Monday. The meeting decided to take effective measures for complete eradication of polio from the province.
The CM said the importance of the anti-polio campaign has been increased due to the coronavirus pandemic and deputy commissioners should monitor the anti-polio campaigns in their respective districts as the government wants Punjab to be totally free from polio disease. Warnings have been issued to DCs of some districts for failing to hold meetings about the eradication of polio in their districts and action will be initiated against the CEO (Health) if the polio case has surfaced in the district.
DC will also be held accountable while good performing DCs will be encouraged. The CM maintained the situation is better in Punjab than other provinces but the administration should burn the midnight oil for the success of this campaign. The IG will arrange complete security for polio workers and SOPs for safety from coronavirus will be followed during this campaign, he added.
The meeting decided to exempt polio workers of more than 50 years age from field duty and they will also be screened before going to the field. The CM directed to ensure effective monitoring of the anti-polio campaign as saving the children from this disease is a collective obligation.
He further directed to launch a vigorous awareness campaign adding that the health department’s teams should ensure to administer anti-polio drops to every child. Earlier, P&SHE secretary briefed about the details of the anti-polio campaign. Provincial ministers Dr Yasmin Rashid, Murad Raas, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, chief secretary, administrative secretaries, WHO officials attended the meeting while commissioners, RPOs and NPP coordinator participated through video link.
Usman Buzdar has directed the provincial price control committee, food department and administration to ensure availability of flour bags at fixed rates in the markets.
In a statement, the CM made it clear that no hurdle will be tolerated in the availability of flour bags at the government rates. Every possible step be taken in this regard and a report be submitted to the CM Office along with indiscriminate action against hoarders, he added. He reiterated that hoarders will not be allowed to exploit the people and directed the Food Department and administrative officers to go to the field to monitor the markets’ situation.
