Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has approved the establishment of four additional diagnostic labs for coronavirus in the province. In the first phase, labs will be set up in Sialkot and Sargodha while the facility will be provided in Rahim Yar Khan and Gujrat in the next phase.
This was decided in a video link meeting of cabinet committee for the eradication of coronavirus which met on Wednesday at CM’s Office with CM Usman Buzdar in the chair. The meeting was briefed about the smart lockdown and phase-wise opening of industrial units during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak.
While directing the Health Department to speed up its work, the CM told that up-gradation of labs in The Institute of Public Health and TB Control Programme has been completed and this facility is also provided to Allied Hospital Faisalabad, Nishtar Hospital Multan and THQ Hospital Wazirabad. In the meantime, the daily diagnostics testing capacity of Punjab has reached to 4500 and new labs in Bahawalpur, DG Khan and Rawalpindi will be made functional in the next few days, he informed.
During the last 24 hours, 2247 persons have been tested while more than 64000 citizens have undergone coronavirus tests in Punjab, till today. The total number of coronavirus patients in Punjab is 4431, he added.
The CM emphasized that practice of doing business with shutters down will not be allowed and the shop will be challaned and sealed under the anti-corona ordinance in case of violation.
He explained that Tandoors, milk and yoghurt shops will remain open during Sehri in Ramazan-ul-Mubarak while the restaurants will remain closed during Sehri and Iftaar.
Similarly, implementation of 20 points safety strategy will be ensured for performing Namaz-e-Taraweeh and five prayers during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak and legal action will be initiated against the industry in case of SOPs’ violation. 216 localities have, so far, been locked down in Punjab, he further told.
The meeting also pondered over medical facilities for coronavirus patients, provision of PPEs and steps relating to partial lockdown. Provincial Minister Raja Basharat, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Chief Secretary, IG Police, Commissioner Lahore, secretaries of finance and information departments, Chairman PITB and military officials attended the meeting from CMO while SMBR, ACS (Home), secretaries of Health, P&D, Labour, Industries, Agriculture and Local Government and Community Development departments and others participated through video link.
CM ORDERS TO SUSPEND XEN HEAD BALLOKI: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has directed to suspend Irrigation Department’s Head Balloki XEN for showing poor performance and negligence in performing official duties.
He reiterated that delay in public interest projects will never be tolerated as there is no room for negligence or laxity.
He directed the govt officers to deliver so that public interest projects could be timely completed. Those who will not give results will not continue in Punjab while the honest and dutiful officers will be encouraged, the CM asserted.
CM TAKES NOTICE OF KIDNAP-CUM-MURDER OF A CHILD IN DEPALPUR: The Cm has sought a report from RPO Sahiwal about an incident of kidnap-cum-murder of a child in the Depalpur and directed to early arrest the criminals for legal action against them.
