Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has approved the recruitment of 10,000 constables in the police department. In a statement issued here on Friday, he said that 10,000 constables will be recruited against the approved vacant posts. As many as 5,000 constables will be recruited during the current fiscal year while the rest of 5,000 will be recruited in the next financial year, he added. He said that all the appointments in the police department will be made purely on merit. The government will take steps to overcome the shortage of staff in the police department. He stated the police have played an exemplary role during the Coronavirus outbreak and it is discharging duty wholeheartedly. He also lauded the role of police in safeguarding the lives and property of people besides curbing the criminals. Meanwhile, the Punjab Standing Committee on Finance and Development has also approved the recruitment of 10,000 constables. Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar also visited Government Comprehensive Higher Secondary School Sheikhupura to inspect the financial aid distribution under Ehsaas Kafalat Programme. He also distributed aid amounts among the women recipients who expressed their satisfaction over the facilities. The CM maintained that indigent strata are given relief and the amount of Rs12000 is no benefaction. The PTI government is ensuring this in a very transparent manner, the CM added. Rs13.5 crore financial aid has been distributed in Sheikhupura and more than 50 thousand deserving families will be given aid under Ehsaas Kafalat Programme, he said. On the request of a woman, the CM directed the deputy commissioner to arrange for her medical treatment. The CM also chaired a meeting to review arranged for dealing with coronavirus and dengue, wheat procurement, cleanliness and law and order situation. Talking on this occasion, the CM reiterated that people will not be left alone and every effort will be made to provide relief to them. He directed the police to work efficiently for the protection of life and property of the people adding that arrangements of wheat procurement, cleanliness and eradication of coronavirus and dengue should be better than the best. He said that 14 centres have been set up in Sheikhupura for wheat procurement starting from April 20. The restriction of ‘gardawari’ has been done away with and the wheat crop will be procured on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, he added. He continued that most of the 33 coronavirus patients in Sheikhupura have travel history. Arrangements have been made to keep 45 patients in isolation and field hospital will also be established, if needed. Meanwhile, different markets have also been sprayed. Ehsaas Kafalat Programme and CM Insaf Imdad Programme are the largest aid initiatives to provide financial aid worth Rs12000 each in the most transparent manner, he added. Brig (r) Rahat Iman Ullah announced to distribute Ration in the needy. Provincial Ministers Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mahmood-ur-Rasheed, Mian Khalid Mahmood, parliamentarians, Commissioner Lahore and others were also present on this occasion. Separately, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar visited Narowal to inspect the distribution of financial aid under Ehsaas Kafalat Programme at a centre set up in Government Boys High School Narowal. He distributed aid amount among the needy and stated that provision of financial aid in a most transparent manner is another achievement of PTI government. The Ehsaas Kafalat Programme is being promoted as a movement and six aid distribution centres comprising of 25 counters have been set up in Narowal. The second phase of aid distribution has started in the district, he added. The CM also inquired the women about any difficulty being faced by them. The applicants appreciated the arrangements and replied that they have not faced any difficulty in the centre as the best arrangements are made. Auqaf Minister also gave financial aid to the applicants. Later, the CM chaired meeting at the DC office. Addressing the gathering, he directed the line departments to remain fully vigilant to deal with any untoward situation. In the wake of coronavirus pandemic, Ramazan bazaars will not be established and cash will be transferred to deserving families under Chief Minister’s Ramazan package. The cash transfer system will be designed on the pattern of Insaf Imdad Programme, he added. The CM also directed to devise an emergency plan for safety from flood adding that flow of water in rivers and nullahs be monitored round the clock. Shortage of police staff will be fulfilled as the recruitment of 10 thousand officials has been approved, he said. I am in direct liaison with the people and monitoring the field situation by visiting different districts, he added. Wheat procurement campaign will be started from 25 April while the distribution of ganni bags will commence from 20 April in Narowal A target of 65 thousand metric ton wheat has been fixed, he told. Monitoring committees have also been constituted and SOPs are issued for procurement centres. The CM said that individual quarantine facility is also arranged for coronavirus patients in Narowal and PPEs are being provided on a priority basis to doctors and paramedics. He also gave in-principle approval of 40-KM long Narowal to Shakargarh road project adding the government wants to give real relief to the masses. He also directed the administration to work proactively for the eradication of dengue.