A high level meeting was held under the chair of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar at CM’s office on Saturday which reviewed in detail the coronavirus pandemic situation in the province, preventive measures and the arrangements made for the treatment of corona affected patients.
Lahore Corps Commander Lt-Gen Majid Ehsan, Rangers DG Punjab Maj-Gen Amir Majeed, Chief Secretary Azam Suleman, Inspector General Police Shoaib Dastageer, senior member board of revenue, chairman, Planning and Development, additional chief secretary (Home) and civil and military officials were also present on this occasion.
Lt-Gen Majid Ehsan assured the civilian government to extend their complete cooperation for taking the preventive measures in order to eradicate coronavirus. It was decided in the meeting to further accelerate the pace of efforts being made to deal with coronavirus outbreak and provision of best treatment facilities to the corona affected patients.
The meeting expressed its consensus over strict implementation over the prevailing lockdown in Punjab. It was decided that the measures taken to cope with Covid-19 will constantly continue. It was also considered to further extend the lockdown and various suggestions were reviewed in this regard. It was further decided that the affected areas will be sealed until their clearance.
Violation of Section 144 will not be tolerated at any cost and law will come into action in case of any violation. Complete implementation would be ensured on the decisions taken during the meeting in letter and spirit.
Usman Buzdar while addressing the participants said that Punjab government has acquired the capability to conduct 3100 tests on daily basis for diagnosing the coronavirus disease. The effectiveness and abilities of testing facility in the province will soon be increased up to ten thousands. Eight new labs are being set up in the province for diagnosing corona patients, these labs will soon be made functional.
Sensitive places with regard to coronavirus are being strictly monitored. Screening process of the prisoners has been started in the prisons. He said that financial aid programme for providing relief to the destitute has been started.
An amount of Rs 12000 will be provided as a financial aid to the deserving people in the Punjab. Necessary measures are being taken for the protection of doctors and paramedical staff in the hospitals. More steps will be taken for protecting the lives of the people. Wheat harvesting campaign has been launched. Wheat would be procured at the rate of Rs 1400 per maund from the cultivators. There are abundant reserves of wheat in province.
Target of procuring 45 lakh metric ton wheat has been set during the current year. Special instruction has been issued to maintain social distancing for the cultivators at Wheat Procurement Centres. The meeting lauded the services of doctors, nurses and other paramedical staff as well as officers and staff of Police, Pak Army and Rangers.
Arrangement regarding treatment of affected patients and Matters regarding PPE were also reviewed. Preventive measures during the wheat procurement and safeguarding the wheat from the locust worm were also reviewed.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has congratulated the Christian community on the Easter and said that the whole world including Pakistan is under the threat of Corona pandemic. Keeping in view the outbreak of Covid-19, following the preventive measures on the occasion of Easter is our national and moral obligation. The best way to get others involved in the joys of Easter is to adopt social distancing and preventive measures. We can not only protect ourselves but others as well by maintaining social distancing. He said that holding online rituals and religious ceremonies from the churches on the occasion of Easter is a commendable initiative and Punjab government appreciates this step. Usman Buzdar said that he is thankful to the Christian community for this support. He said that the role of the Christian community has always been commendable since from the creation of Pakistan till making new Pakistan. The Christian community has made a tremendous contribution in the progress and development of Pakistan. Regardless of color, race, religion, caste and faith, Pakistan is our motherland, Usman Buzdar stated. Our security is interlinked with the stability of Pakistan.
Easter is a day for spending time with destitute and deserving people and sharing the joys. Today, we have to share the joys of Easter by helping families affected by the Corona epidemic, especially to the daily wager, he concluded.
