Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar visited Rahim Yar Khan, Rojhan, Garhi Chakar Mirpur Mathelo on Thursday. At the first leg of his tour, CM chaired a meeting at Rahim Yar Khan airport where he was briefed by Commissioner Bahawalpur about anti-locust drive and coronavirus situation. The CM directed to work hard to save crops from locust attack and strict compliance of anti-coronavirus SOPs. The markets and commercial areas will be sealed in case of SOPs’ violation, he warned and added that he is visiting different districts and timely decisions are taken. The people should follow governmental SOPs and legal action will be initiated against individuals and business entities in case of non-compliance, he said. The CM was told that out of 8598 suspected coronavirus patients, 752 were tested positive while 370 have been recovered in Bahawalpur region. Three field hospitals of 505-beds capacity have been established. A total of 3507 have been tested in Bahawalpur. Similarly, anti-dengue measures have also been taken along with an effective locust surveillance mechanism in Bahawalpur. 95535 hectares area has been sprayed and two aeroplanes along-with more than 50 vehicles are being utilized to curb the locust attack. More than one crore acres land is under surveillance in Bahawalpur division and experts are hired to control locust attack. Meanwhile, 6666 metric ton wheat has been recovered by registering 118 FIRs against anti-social elements involved in the hoarding of wheat. Rs7.5 billion is distributed in more than six lac and 25 thousand needy families in Bahawalpur under Ehsaas Cash Emergency Programme. The meeting offered Fateha for father of Javed Iqbal Warraich MNA and son of Aamer Nawaz Chandia. Assembly members from Rahim Yar Khan, SMBR, RPO Bahawalpur, DC and DPO Rahim Yar Khan, DG PDMA and others attended the meeting. The CM also visited the residence of Sardar Shamsher Ali Mazari in Rojhan Tehsil of Rajanpur district to express condolence over the murder of his brother former MPA Sardar Atif Mazari. He offered Fateha for the departed soul and said that late Sardar Atif Mazari was a kind-hearted and genuine politician of the area. Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari, Advisor Hanif Pitafi, Sardar Ahmed Ali Daresh MPA and notables of the area were also present on this occasion. Afterwards, the CM visited Garhi Chakar Mirpur Mathelo in Sindh province and condoled with Sardar Rahim Bakhsh Buzdar over the death of his mother at his residence. He offered Fateha for the departed soul and also met with the locals of the area. The CM invited them to visit Punjab. I have visited Balochistan and today, I am present in Sindh province with a message of brotherhood and unity, he stated and added that we are interlinked with each other and our joys are sorrows are common. I will also go to KPK to promote interprovincial harmony, the CM announced. Usman Buzdar reiterated that promotion of backward areas is his top priority adding that unprecedented steps have been taken by the incumbent government to remove the deprivations of southern Punjab. Steps are being taken for the establishment of Southern Punjab Secretariat and it will be made functional soon, he said. Additional Chief Secretary and Additional IG will be posted in Bahawalpur and Multan and the people of Southern Punjab will not have to visit Lahore for the solution of their problems, he concluded. The tribal elders stated that dwellers of southern Punjab have been granted their rights in the tenure of the incumbent government and Usman Buzdar has got completed tremendous development projects in a short period of two years. We want that our areas are developed on the same pattern, they added. Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that environmental pollution is a global challenge. In his message, the CM said that a collective strategy is needed to move forward to overcoming environmental degradation. Environmental pollution has badly effected human health and green environment around us. The nations of the world will have to overcome the circumstances which are affecting the green environment, he said. He maintained the population explosion and industrial development have affected the global environment. The PTI government has taken different measures to overcome pollution. The CM pointed out that billion tree tsunami and clean and green Pakistan programs are helping to overcome the pollution. The PTI government has made tree-plantation a national movement to increase public awareness about the importance of natural resources that affect the environment, he added. He recommended that environmental protection campaigns should be continued to educate people about the importance of environmental protection. Meanwhile, cutting of forests is a major reason for environmental degradation. The protection of trees and survival of forests are imperative for overcoming environmental pollution as trees are a beautiful face of mother nature. We should commit to protecting the environment for giving a better tomorrow to our coming generations, the CM concluded. Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has paid tributes to the services of Assistant Professor Dr Hafiz Maqsood of Services Hospital who died of coronavirus. In a statement, the CM extended sympathies to the bereaved family and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace. Hafiz Maqsood has set an example of public service and embraced martyrdom while performing duties, the CM added. Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has expressed a deep sense of sorrow over the death of PTI’s Ulema and Mashaikh Wing leader Dr Mukhtar. In a condolence message, the CM has extended sympathies to the bereaved family and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace. Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has felicitated newly elected President Ayaz Shujah and Secretary Shahzad Malik for achieving success in the Punjab Assembly Press Gallery Committee elections. CM expressed his good wishes for the newly elected President and Secretary. He remarked that hopefully both the newly elected office-bearers will come up to the expectations of the journalist community about the trust they have reposed in both of them. CM hoped that newly elected President and the Secretary will make Press Gallery Committee a more effective platform.