Capacity of 3,100 tests to be enhanced to 5,000: CM Usman Buzdar

LAHORE:Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar presided over a video link meeting of cabinet committee for the eradication of coronavirus at his office here 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 3,100 tests daily had been achieved by the government and this would be enhanced to 5,000 tests in the next few days. There are around 19,000 diagnostic kits available in Punjab and 2,000 more kits will be received from NDMA today (Wednesday).

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 the government orders will not be tolerated as these steps are taken to protect the lives of the citizens, he maintained. He 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 would be tested again after 14 days and those found negative would be allowed to go home.

The CM 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.

model vans: Usman Buzdar has 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 Tuesday.

The 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 that the PTI government had provided resources to police department earlier and would do the same in future as well for safeguarding the lives and properties of the people. cheque: Chief Secretary Maj (R) Azam Suleman called on Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar at his office and presented a cheque for Rs120 crore for Chief Minister Corona Control Fund.

This amount has been donated by the Punjab government employees to support governmental efforts for overcoming the coronavirus pandemic. The government employees from grade 1 to 16 have donated their one day salary while grade 17 to grade 19 officers donated two-day salary.

tribute: Usman Buzdar has paid rich tributes to Dr Abdul Qadir Soomro who embraced martyrdom while treating the coronavirus patients in Karachi.