Daily Times

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar presided over a video link meeting of cabinet committee for the eradication of coronavirus at his office on Tuesday. The meeting held a detailed review of the prevailing situation and different facilities arranged for the patients.

Addressing the meeting, the CM disclosed the capacity of conducting 3100 tests daily has been achieved by the government and this would be enhanced to 5000 tests in the next few days. As much as 1785 people were tested yesterday, he added. There are around 19000 diagnostics kits available in Punjab and 2000 more kits will be received from NDMA tomorrow. Meanwhile, testing labs are also being established in Lahore and other districts of the province, he said and directed to make functional eight labs at the earliest. He directed that implementation of Section 144 be ensured strictly. Violation of government orders will not be tolerated as these steps are taken to protect the lives of the citizens, he maintained. He also directed to take action against those violating pillion riding ban. He asked the health department to early complete the procurement of necessary equipment adding that patients in quarantine facilities or isolation wards will be tested again after 14 days and those found negative will be allowed to go homes.

The CM further directed to establish separate wards for coronavirus affected pregnant women in Lahore and other districts’ hospitals. Patients should be provided with every necessary facility in quarantine centres, he asked. PPE should also be provided to doctors and nurses on a priority basis and their other issues will be solved by the government., he concluded.

Provincial Ministers Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Chief Secretary, IG Police, secretaries of health, information, finance, agriculture departments and military officials attended the meeting at CMO while Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht, SMBR, ACS (Home), relevant secretaries and high officials participated through video link.

Meanwhile, on the instructions of Usman Buzdar, a special vehicle “The Mist Queen” has been introduced for antiseptic spray. A demonstration of antiseptic spray through “The Mist Queen” was given to the CM at the CM’s Office on Tuesday. The CM expressed satisfaction over the manufacturing of a spray vehicle with local resources. He was informed that the vehicle has been manufactured with a sum of Rs one lac and 75 thousand and local government department has developed it with its resources. The chief minister said that “The Mist Queen” will spray main roads and markets. 8 such vehicles have been manufactured for spray in crowded areas of the provincial metropolis. “The Mist Queen” vehicles will be provided to 455 local governments across the province in phases. He said that spray is being conducted in Lahore with the cooperation of LWMC and Rescue 1122. He assured to continue every possible measure to overcome coronavirus. All-out resources are being utilized to protect the people from coronavirus, he added.

Secretary Local Government Department briefed that the department will also introduce “The Mist Canon.” Also, Usman Buzdar approved model vans for Elite Force, Highways and Punjab Police. He inspected the model vans along with IG Police Shoaib Dastgir at CM Office here on Tuesday. IG Police briefed the chief minister about different features of the vans. The CM directed that safety and convenience of police personnel on duty should be kept in mind while selecting the vehicles. He stated the PTI government had provided resources to police department earlier and will do the same in future as well for safeguarding the lives and property of the people. The past governments introduced no reforms in the police department for providing relief to the people. The system of reward and punishment has yielded positives results and the government will ensure that police also produces good results, Usman Buzdar added.

Separately, Usman Buzdar paid rich tributes to Dr Abdul Qadir Soomro who embraced martyrdom while treating the coronavirus patients in Karachi. We salute the services of Shaheed Doctor Abdul Qadir Soomro rendered for the ailing humanity, he added. Usman Buzdar said that Shaheed Dr Abdul Qadir Soomro did not care for his life while treating the patients. People like Dr Abdul Qadir Soomro are out pride and the nation will remember his everlasting sacrifice. Doctors, nurses and paramedical staff are rendering valuable services in the war against coronavirus and the government recognises their passion, he added.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Secretary Maj (r) Azam Suleman called on Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar at his office and presented a cheque worth Rs120 crore for Chief Minister Fund for Corona Control. This amount has been donated by Punjab government employees to support governmental efforts for overcoming the coronavirus pandemic. Government employees from grade 1 to 16 have donated their one day salary while grade 17 to grade 19 officers have given two days’ salary. Similarly, three days’ salary of government officers of grade 20 to grade 22 has also been donated to this fund.

Talking on this occasion, the chief minister appreciated the passion and assured that this amount will be utilized for helping the coronavirus patients. He reiterated that the Punjab government is standing with the affected people and the hapless strata will not be left alone. The government employees have set a high example and every penny will be spent on the welfare of the deserving people. I am monitoring the relief activities and there would be no delay in this regard, he added.