KARACHI: President Dr Arif Alvi has appealed to the masses that they should get vaccinated against coronavirus infection at the earliest while at the same time they should act upon the directions issued by the National Command and Control Centre against the spread of COVID-19.
The president issued the advice as he chaired a meeting here at the Governor’s House on Saturday. He asked the authorities concerned to make sure that the people fully act upon the standard operating procedures prescribed by the government against the spread of the lethal infectious disease. He asked Sindh Governor Imran Ismail to hold a meeting with the Ulema of different schools of thought before the commencement of the sacred month of Muharram-ul-Haram. The meeting should be held with the aim that the religious processions are taken out during Muharram in accordance with the government-prescribed SOPs for such gatherings. The president appealed to the general public to show responsibility. He said people, who came to the Faisal Masjid of Islamabad to offer Eid ul Azha prayers, didn’t observe the precautions prescribed by the NCOC for such religious congregations. He asked people to wear face masks, avoid crowded places and get the jab against COVID-19 infection. He said an effective strategy could ensure poverty alleviation and sustainable development in the country. He said the government has done commendable efforts to implement development schemes in Karachi and the rest of Sindh. The economic, social, and environmental problems of Sindh could be resolved through permanent planning and strategy.
Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar said on the occasion that the federal government has been acting on an agenda to ensure sustainable development in Sindh. He said the government has been ensuring strict compliance with the SOPs in the big cities and tourist resorts in the country.
The minister briefed the meeting about the latest situation of the coronavirus pandemic in the country with regard to its ongoing fourth wave and spread of the highly lethal Indian variant of the virus. He also briefed the president about the status of the federally-funded development schemes in the province.