Daily Times

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar announced that special risk allowance, equal to one salary, will be given to doctors, nurses, medical staff and others engaged in the treatment of coronavirus affected patients.

The 600 people, cleared after spending 14 days in DG Khan quarantine facility, are being sent to their homes and Punjab government is also arranging follow-up screening in their respective districts. Their corona tests were negative and screening of prisoners has also been started. A summary has been moved to release 3500 prisoners involved in petty crimes besides setting up a 100-bed hospital in Camp Jail Lahore.

He stated this while talking to the media after chairing cabinet committee meeting for the eradication of coronavirus. The chief minister said the total number of coronavirus patients in Punjab is 312: 176 are in DG Khan, 77 in Lahore, 3 in Multan, 19 in Jhelum, 2 each in Rawalpindi and Faisalabad, 21 in Gujrat, 8 in Gujranwala and 1 each in Mandi Bahuddin, Rahim Yar Khan, Sargodha and Narowal. The total number of quarantine facilities in Punjab is 163 having a total capacity of 20,000 patients, he added. Meanwhile, work is in progress to set up more quarantine facilities along-with increase in medical facilities. PSL level-3 labs will be set up in every division and 62 crore rupees have been released for 5 divisions to early complete this project, he added.

The chief minister told that Punjab government is writing a letter to CAA that arrangements be made to quickly check the Punjab bound CAA staff after foreign duties or Punjab government be provided with their lists for screening. He assured that cleanliness and other essential matters will not be affected and the administration will ensure cities’ regular cleanliness. He directed that food-chain supply should not be affected adding that there is no shortage of any kind but the people should avoid unnecessary hoarding. The administration is active against hoarding and provision of personal protective equipment is in progress for safety from coronavirus. He advised the people to maintain social distancing and impressed upon the philanthropists to attend to the needs of the indigent strata around them. There is no curfew but the people should restrict to their homes and cooperate with the government. The Punjab government will announce social protection package on the pattern of the federal government, he added.

The chief secretary told that 150 pilgrims, coming from Iran, are kept in Faisalabad. The Taftan border is closed and there is no information about the arrival of more pilgrims. Provincial Ministers Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, Musarrat Jamshed Cheema MPA, Chief Secretary, administrative secretaries and others were also present.

Meanwhile, Usman Buzdar visited the Kala Shah Kaku Campus of University of Engineering and Technology Lahore to inspect isolation/quarantine centres set up there. He expressed the satisfaction over the arrangements and directed to install incinerator as well. The chief minister was told that 15 AC buses have been arranged to transfer the patients from Old Airport Terminal Lahore to KSK Campus after their registration. The patients will be shifted to the quarantine facility where control room and emergency response centre have also been set up. Similarly, four ambulances and ten motorcycle ambulances have been arranged while 15 doctors and 65 members of the medical team will perform round-the-clock duties in different shifts. Dispensary and infection control system, along with security arrangements, have been established. Portable washrooms and other facilities are also available in the KSK Campus for 816 patients. Around 1400 patients can be quarantined in UET, GCU and Judicial Complex facilities. The patients will be kept separated according to their medical conditions and bed, sanitizer, food and other necessary items will be provided in every room. The chief minister was also told about the yellow van and yellow room facility. The clothes of the medical teams will be disposed of in the incinerator. The goggles, boots, gloves, face masks, caps and protective dresses will be collected in the yellow room and the sealed protective kit will be sent to the yellow van for its disposal in incinerator at high temperature. This process will also be digitally monitored. The chief minister directed that relevant SOPs be followed and no leniency be shown in this regard. The infection control program should be strictly followed, he added. Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Commissioner and DC Lahore and Health Department officials were also present on this occasion.

Also, Usman Buzdar welcomed the relief package announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan worth more than one thousand billion rupees for the coronavirus affectees.

In a statement, Usman Buzdar said labours will monthly get three thousand rupees while decrease in petroleum prices will help reduce the prices of daily-use commodities. Similarly, relief in electricity and gas bills is another commendable step of the Prime Minister.

It proves the PTI government is people’s government in the truest sense, he said and added that reduction in taxes on essential items will substantially reduce the price-hike. Relief package will also be announced for coronavirus affectees in Punjab, the CM concluded. Meanwhile, Buzdar took strict notice of brutal torture of youth in Gojra and sought a report from IG Police.

In a statement, he directed to arrest the accused at the earliest adding that best treatment be provided to the injured. Similarly, requirements of justice be fulfilled by bringing the accused into the custody of the law. Ensuring justice to the injured is my obligation, he further said. The chief minister also expressed a deep sense of sorrow over the death of veteran educationist and former VC of Punjab University Prof Dr Rafique Ahmad. In a condolence message, the chief minister extended sympathies to the bereaved family and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace.