Staff Reporter
Sindh Minister for Information, Local Government, Housing & Town Planning, Religious Affairs, Forest & Wildlife Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said that although the situation still was in complete control and there was no need to panic, but yet Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had ordered to ensure the availability of essential food items in case of any emergency come up owing to the possibility of the spread of novel coronavirus. The Minister said that the funds had also been reserved to deal with this kind of situation. But he repeated that so far, the situation didn’t demand any urgency regarding storing up of food.
He said this while briefing the journalists after attending a meeting presided over by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at CM House on Saturday. Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said that the meeting discussed in detail and endorsed the decisions taken during the meeting of all the chief ministers held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Provincial Minister for Information said the health advisory issued by the federal government would be followed in letter and spirit, besides, he added that the Sindh government had also issued its own health advisory.
He said that people had been requested to avoid large gathering even those connected with the marriage ceremonies. Syed Nasir Hussain Shah told that all those who had come from Taftan had reached Sukkur and their blood samples were being taken for tests.
Provincial Minister for Information said that Sindh Chief Minister had sent his helicopter for the shifting of these samples to the laboratories in Karachi. He said that till the complete satisfaction these passengers would not be allowed to leave for their homes.
Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said that owing to unsatisfactory arrangements at the Taftan border the people coming from Iran were suffering immensely. In this regard it had been decided that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah would write to the federal government requesting them to let the people who belonged to Sindh cross the border and reached in Sindh where all the arrangements had been made at several places from screening to shifting to the isolation centers.
Provincial Minister for Information said that the health advisory for the students of seminaries was similar to that issued for the students of schools, colleges and universities.
He said that ensuring the fool proof arrangements at the airports was the responsibility of the federal government. Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was presiding over the meeting of the task force formed to deal with the situation of novel coronavirus on a daily basis.
Provincial Minister for Information said that the called by the Prime Minister yesterday should had been convened quite earlier. Provincial Minister for Information said that instructions issued as health advisory could be extended or taken back it all depended on the as the situation unfolded.
He said that provincial disaster management was also doing its efforts to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus. Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said that those suffering from high fever and cough or serious pneumonia needed to get tested for the disease, adding that the Sindh government was bearing all the cost of the test for coronavirus. Responding to a question Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said that a propose the public gathering to be conducted on 4th April the central executive committee of PPP would decide about it. The Minister mentioned that following the situation a public gathering that was to be addressed by Chairman Pakistan People’s Party was also cancelled. He said that whatever would be in favor of the general public Pakistan People’s Party would follow the same.
Syed Nasir Hussain Shah hoped that soon the situation would become normal as the patients affected from coronavirus were getting better. Syed Nasir Hussain Shah again announced reward for the development of antidote to coronavirus.
The Minister said that whosoever – any research laboratory or a research student would develop the antipode would not only be rewarded but also the Sindh government would pay for all the expenses of the research work.
