CM Usman Buzdar orders crackdown on mask, sanitizer hoarders

LAHORE:Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has directed an indiscriminate crackdown on the mafia involved in hoarding masks and sanitizers.

Jail is the best place for those who loot people, the chief minister said and announced a special fund worth Rs 5 billion for overcoming the coronavirus. Rs 23.60 crore were issued to the health department and one billion rupees were allocated as well, he added. The government will provide more resources to secure the lives of people, the CM said and directed for arranging diagnostic kits as soon as possible, adding there should be no shortage of diagnostic kits. Implementation on the decisions made in the provincial apex committee be ensured in letter and spirit and the government will continue adopting necessary steps to save the lives of people, he said and added the Punjab government wants to set up a quarantine facility in Taftaan from its resources and directed the line departments to take steps in collaboration with the Balochistan government.

The meeting also reviewed the proposal of shutting down shopping malls and restaurants at 7:00 pm or 8:00 pm and the chief minister directed that the committees concerned should review it and submit their conclusive recommendations at the earliest. He said the role of PDMA is very important in the present-day situation and asked its DG to review the situation by going to the field. When the chief minister, health minister and others are conducting tours, then what PDMA is doing, he enquired and directed the DG PDMA to submit reports of districts tours to CM office daily. He emphasised that people cannot be left alone in difficult circumstances. The chief minister said that self-isolation in homes will produce positive results and added that people should be educated about it. He also directed to early complete the process of conducting tests of pilgrims coming from Iran and added that implementation on precautionary steps be ensured in the light of WHO instructions.

The government is aware of financial problems of daily wagers and a committee has been constituted which will submit its recommendations at the earliest, he said. The meeting also reviewed to stop marriage ceremonies at homes. He said the number of employees has been sufficiently decreased in government offices. The chief minister directed that purchase process of safety dress and other material for doctors and paramedical staff be completed at the earliest and health department should submit a report to the cabinet committee every day.

The meeting of cabinet committee for dealing with coronavirus was held under the chair of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar at his office to review the precautionary measures being taken for overcoming the coronavirus. Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare gave a briefing to the participants. Provincial ministers Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Hashim Jawan Bakht, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, Mussarat Jamshed Cheema MPA, Chief Secretary, IG Police, SMBR, ACS (Home), Commissioner Lahore, DG PDMA, administrative secretaries and others attended the meeting.