Daily Times

National Command and Operation Center (NOCC) Monday mulled over future mechanism for overseas Pakistanis’ repatriation, new cases of coronavirus, quarantine facilities, test tracking and quarantine (TTQ) in four provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

In this regard, a high-level meeting was held at the NCOC, chaired by Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Omar on Monday.

Representatives of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan governments attended the meeting through video link, while Minister for Interior Brig (r) Ejaz Ahmad Shah, Minister for Economic Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for National Food Security Fakhar Imam, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security (SAPM) Dr Moeed Yousaf, SAPM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, Prime Minister’s Focal Person for COVID-19 Dr Faisal Sultan, Lt Gen Hamood Uz Zaman and other officials were present in the meeting. A Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government representative told the meeting that the ratio of confirmed cases of corona virus in KP was 20 percent, with more samples being sent to Peshawar for testing.

The Chief Secretary Punjab informed the meeting that there were 24 ventilators functional in Nishtar Hospital Multan. Moreover, 34 additional ventilators had been provided to Tayyib Erdogan Hospital. He said that in the last 24 hours, 333 new cases of coronavirus had been recorded in Punjab out of which 143 new cases were local, 187 cases of Tablighi Jamaat members and three prisoners had been registered so far. He said that Pakistanis coming from abroad were being quarantined in their respective districts. He said that the provincial governments should also be informed about the Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) being sent to hospitals by the federal government.

The Sindh government representative told the meeting that the provincial government had distributed equal PPEs to hospitals whereas the coronavirus testing kits by federal government would be sent as per the requirement. He said that there were 2 chartered flights arriving in Sindh on the previous day. Minister Asad Umar directed to timely inform the provinces about the plan to bring back Pakistanis stranded abroad and take action on violation of the Aviation Protocol.

A representative from Azad Jammu and Kashmir told the meeting that the affected patients of coronavirus were being kept in accordance with the scheduled SOPs, adding that 12 more patients would be discharged tomorrow. He said 46 tests had been done in the last 24 hours.

From February 15 till now 26,361 suspected coronavirus patients quarantined through village teams. A representative of the Balochistan government told the meeting that 308 tests had been done in the last 24 hours whereas effective communication was developed with National and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities

A representative of the Gilgit-Baltistan government told the meeting that 150 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, out of which 6 were reported COVID-19 positive.

He said that the NDMA had assured the establishment of a laboratory in Diamer. Chairman NDMA ensured that the equipment for the laboratory would be dispatched soon to Diamer.

The Prime Minister’s Focal Person for COVID-19, Dr. Faisal Sultan said that the doctors and paramedical staff fighting on the frontline against coronavirus should ensure full implementation of the guidelines besides wearing N-95 masks.

SAPM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said that cases of coronavirus among doctors and paramedical staff were mainly due to improper use of personal protective equipment (PPEs) whereas their training was essential for using PPEs.

Major General Asif Goraya, Director Operations, National Command and Operations Center, briefed the meeting on Test, Tracking and Quarantine (TTQ).

Chief Coordinator NCOC Lt Gen Hamood Uz Zaman said that TTQ was limited to tests and tracking whereas all aspects of it needed to be expanded.

Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal and Executive Director NIH Maj Gen Amir Ikram also briefed the meeting.

Briefing:

Meanwhile, a delegation of foreign diplomats, including ambassadors, high commissioners and defence attache from 19 countries, visited the NCOC.

According to NCOC, the delegation was received by Lieutenant General Hamood Uz Zaman Khan.

The delegation was given a detailed briefing on the scale, scope of NCOC, national COVID-19 response architecture, national COVID-19 overview and Pakistan’s response paradigm.

Asad Umer, Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiative briefed the visiting delegation on COVID-19 situation and its impact on various sectors of Pakistan and containment efforts made so far to mitigate the challenges and provision of best possible services to common people in line with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision.

Dr Zafar Mirza gave health overview and Pakistan’s COVID-19 response. The delegation was informed in detail regarding epidemiological aspects of COVID-19 and efforts at all levels.

Khusro Bakhtiar briefed the dignitaries on financial assistance extended by World Bank, IMF, ADB and thanked the G-20 members for their assistance in grace period to focus on COVID-19 challenges.

The delegation included Dean of Diplomatic Corps, Diplomats and Defence Attaches of Australia, Canada, China, Cuba, Egypt, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan Korea, Malaysia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and United Kingdom.