Daily Times

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Tuesday reiterated that the provincial government had neither imposed a lockdown nor a curfew in the province, saying that the health department was ready to battle the coronavirus.

The chief minister was addressing a news conference via video link with senior members of the provincial cabinet regarding the decisions made in the 28th cabinet meeting on Tuesday. In response to a question, CM Buzdar said that hospitals across the province were ready to deal with the pandemic. “Our health department is ready to tackle the coronavirus,” he said.

The total number of coronavirus patients is 265 in Punjab. 176 patients are quarantined in DG Khan while 59 patients are in Lahore. Similarly, 12 are in Gujrat, seven in Gujranwala, three in Jhelum, two each in Rawalpindi and Multan and one each in Faisalabad and Mandi Bahauddin.

The cabinet paid tributes to Dr Usama Riaz of Gilgit-Baltistan who sacrificed his life while treating coronavirus patients. We also appreciate the role being played by medical teams in the treatment of coronavirus patients in Punjab, he added. The meeting was also briefed about coronavirus related situation and the chief minister and his cabinet members have announced to donate their one month salary to chief minister’s fund for corona control, he added.

Meanwhile, he told that Punjab government released eleven billion rupees to the health department and the approval has been given in the cabinet meeting. Two billion rupees have been given to PDMA besides providing 60 crore rupees to districts and Punjab cabinet has also endorsed the decision of giving one billion rupees to the Balochistan government, he added.

The meeting decided to start distribution of Zakat one month earlier and recommendations are being forwarded to the federal government while the Bait-ul-Maal funds are being released for their early distribution, he said. The chief minister told the committee has been constituted to review decrease in fee of private schools during holidays and before time summer holidays in schools. The committee will submit its recommendations in seven days to take further steps, he told. Similarly, the committee has been constituted under law minister Raja Basharat to contact parliamentary parties of opposition so that joint work could be done in this difficult hour. The cabinet also has given principle approval to the draft of The Punjab Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Ordinance, 2020. Three testing laboratories will be upgraded to level 3 in Lahore and approval has been given to establish new level 3 labs in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, DG Khan, Faisalabad and Bahawalpur. Rs. 62 crore have been approved for it, he added.

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said the cabinet permitted to arrange the services of ten thousand doctors, health professionals, paramedical staff and services of retired doctors will also be obtained. Approval has been given to provide Rs eight lakhs as financial aid to the heirs of deceased coronavirus patients. He added that the Punjab government is working on an economic package to facilitate the masses and the finance minister will give a detailed briefing in the next few days. Meanwhile, the Punjab government has also forwarded its recommendations to the federal government and Prime Minister Imran Khan will announce the economic package of the federal govt., he stated.

The chief minister told that cabinet approved the amendment in local bodies act and agreed to delay local bodies elections for nine months keeping in view the prevailing situation. For this, an ordinance is being issued because May 5 is the final date of holding local bodies election. The Chief Secretary presented a contingency plan which was approved by the cabinet. The chief minister told that ministers have been assigned duties in districts to take steps for dealing with coronavirus. The meeting directed the health department to complete the procurement of necessary health material as soon as possible.

To a question, the chief minister emphasized that implementation on the steps being taken for safety from coronavirus will be ensured at every cost as section 144 is imposed but home delivery of eatables and medicines and the business of raw material used in the making of sanitizer etc will not be affected; and in case of any problem, the administration can be approached. To another question, he said that SOPs have been issued for mosques and advanced steps are being taken in mosques as the government is fully prepared to deal with the emergency situation. The health department is also fully prepared and funds have also been provided to defeat coronavirus, he said. To a question, he clarified that it is not curfew nor lockdown but steps have been taken by the government to protect the lives of the people and the services of the army have also be acquired under Article 245. Provincial Ministers Yasmeen Rashid, Raja Basharat, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, Hashim Jawan Bakht and secretary information were also present.

Earlier, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar presided over the 28th cabinet meeting at 90-SQA and paid tributes to Dr Usama Riaz. The meeting gave in-principle approval to The Punjab Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Ordinance, 2020. It was decided to upgrade three testing laboratories in Lahore to level 3 while approval was also given to set up new level 3 labs in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, DG Khan, Faisalabad and Bahawalpur for which 62 crore rupees were approved. The CM directed that establishment of testing labs in every division be examined and immediate steps be taken as well. The meeting permitted to acquire the services of 10,000 doctors, health professional and paramedical staff. Approval of Rs eight lakh as a financial grant to heirs of deceased coronavirus patients was given. The ex-post facto approval of requisition for acquiring the services of Pak Army under Article 245 was given along with the approval of the amendment in Punjab Local Government Act, 2019. Approval of amendment in Punjab Village, Panchayat and Neighbourhood Council Act, 2019 was also given. Minutes of 27th meeting of Punjab cabinet and decisions made in the 27th and 28th meetings of cabinet standing committee for finance and development was also approved.

The auqaf minister led the special prayer.