MUBASHAR NAQVI MUZAFFARABAD Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has completely sealed the entry points to the state and advised those currently outside the territory not to visit state for at-least a month. The decision of complete closure was taken at a high-level video link meeting presided over by Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan in Islamabad on Tuesday. ‘Due to the increasing threat of corona-virus spread, no one from outside the territory would be allowed to enter in Azad Kashmir’, the Prime Minister said. He appealed those AJK citizens who are currently staying outside the state to continue to stay at their respective places. ‘These measures are for the protection of the lives of your loved ones, please do not travel to AJK for at-least a month’, he added. Chief Secretary Mathar Niaz Rana, Secretary Health Mj. General Tahir Sardar, Principal Secretary Raja Amjid Pervaiz Khan, Director General Health Sardar Aftab and other relevant officials attended the meeting. Earlier, Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan made several telephonic contacts with the leaders of opposition parties including Chaudhary Muhammad Yaseen, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, Chauhdary Lateef Akbar, Abdul Rasheed Turabi, Moulana Saeed Yousaf and others and discussed with them the latest situation arising out of the corona pandemic in the region. Prime Minister took the leaders of the parliamentary parties into confidence on government measures to combat the spread of corona virus in the state. He appealed the opposition parties to extend their support to the government to effectively deal with the situation. On this occasion, entire political leadership assured Prime Minister their all out support. Meanwhile, In last 24 hours, five more corona virus suspected cases were reported in AJK. Samples of these persons have been sent to National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad. According to Health Department, total, 65 samples had been sent to NIH from AJK, out of which 42 reports had been received with one positive case. The Department is yet to receive remaining 23 reports from NIH. Staff of the health department alongwith officials of administration deputed at all entry points of AJK is busy in screening of the passengers. In this connection, a meeting presided over by Commissioner Tehzeeb-un-Nisa in Muzaffarabad on Tuesday directed Deputy Commissioners of the division to enforce emergency in their respective districts immediately. Deputy Commissioners have also been directed to setup control rooms with help-line to address the public problems in the present situation. Food, Police and Health departments have been advised to devise a comprehensive plan at district and tehsils level to minimize the sufferings of the masses. It is to recall that AJK government had enforced complete lock-down in the state for next three weeks from Monday midnight to combat the spread of the corona virus. Isolation wards have also been setup at Abbas Institeu of Medical Sciences, CMH Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot, DHQs Mirpur, Hattian Bala, Neelum, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanhoti, Bhimber, Koti and New City Mirpur.
