Daily Times

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Sunday said that the provinces, including Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the federal capital, have initiated strict action against violations of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and penalised various sectors.

In order to ensure public safety, compliance of health guidelines for containment of COVID-19, dedicated teams of provinces including AJK, GB and the federal capital ensured that those not adhering to health instruction/ guidelines were sensitized as SOPs compliance not only ensure individual safety, but also protects family, community and public at large thus contributing to overall healthy environment for society, said a press release.

During the last 24 hours reports received from provinces about actions taken for SOPs compliance included Balochistan where 705 violations have been observed due to which 629 shops, 3 industries were sealed and 15 transports vehicles were fined and cautioned.

In Punjab, special teams were made for checking various markets, bazaars, transport and industrial areas where 965 shops, 2 industries were sealed, 715 transport vehicles were fined on 4641 SOPs violations.

In Sindh, 81 shops were sealed, fined and issued warning on 826 SOPs violations all across the province whereas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) 398 SOPs violations were observed in which 186 shops were sealed and 106 transport vehicles were fined.

In GB 96 shops were sealed and 56 transport vehicles were fined on 267 violations of health guidelines and instructions.

In the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) 44 SOPs violations were marked and 29 shops, 2 industries were sealed and 13 transport vehicles were fined.

In AJK, 972 SOPs violations were observed during which 168 shops were sealed and 202 transports were fined.

Meanwhile, for the first time since the contagion hit Pakistan in February, the National Coordination and Operation Centre held a meeting with emergency responders in different provinces.

A video conference was held by the NCOC with Ramzan Chippa, of Chippa Ambulances, Ahmad Edhi representing the Edhi Foundation, Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) Health DG Dr Hassan Orooj, DG of the 1122 helpline in Punjab Dr Rizwan, and representatives from Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The participants briefed the NCOC on their existing mechanism to provide emergency services to the public, while the latter apprised on the Resource Management System (RMS) through which 1,579 hospitals are linked – it directs the user as to which care facility has what resources available, such as beds, ventilators etc.

According to NCOC, as of now, the data of 804 hospitals out of 1,597 is visible on the RMS system.

Participants were also informed about the Pak Neghebaan App which was launched on Friday. They were apprised that 1,110 hospitals have been linked on the application and the emergency responders can rely on it to find out which health care facility nearest to them has resources available.

Officials of the NCOC urged the emergency responders to use the application and asked the National Information Technology Board (NITB) to share the link for the application with the responders. According to the NCOC, this coordination will help emergency responders in facilitating the general public.