Rs7.55b released to deal with pandemic

LAHORE:The Punjab government Thursday approved and released Rs 7.55 billion for CONVID-19 in order to deal with the pandemic.

The approval of funds was made in a meeting chaired by Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht while funds were released to health and other departments concern. Hashim Jawan Bakht said the government was making all possible efforts to provide maximum and timely financial package for CONVID-19.

Additional Rs 450 million have been released for the Punjab Disaster Management Authority to deal with the virus effectively. The minister said that the government was closely monitoring the situation in Punjab and in order to support the additional burden on the two health departments, the Finance Department has released immediate funds to be used to keep the situation under control.

protective equipment: The Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department (PSHD) has purchased protective equipment having worth Rs217 million from allocation of Rs236 million.

It was informed by PSHD spokesperson that the department has purchased gowns having worth Rs 160million, N95 facemask for Rs 20million, gloves Rs 9.3million and surgical masks for Rs 1.1million to be used in coronavirus emergency.

Similarly, PSHD spent Rs 8.4million for special glasses, Rs 4.46million for shoe covers, and Rs 0.70million for long shoes and Rs 3.5million to purchase sanitizer. Furthermore, a spokesperson said that face shields worth Rs 2.9 million, Rs 1.2million for examination gloves while surgical gloves have been purchased against Rs 4.84million. So far, supply having worth Rs 47 million has been received while the rest of the supply would be received in next week.

PSHD spokesperson cleared that all the hospitals which have coronavirus isolation wards, have been fully loaded with every necessary equipment needed there. Excessive medical equipment is available in all hospitals and further excessive quantity is being supplied in current scenario. He added that Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Minister for Health Dr Yasmeen Rashid and cabinet committee to combat Coronavirus threat reviews arrangements on daily basis.

precautionary steps: National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP) M-3 Sector Commander SSP Muhammad Ayyaz Saleem has warned the oil marketing companies (OMCs) to adopt all precautionary measures with regard to their tankers on Motorways (M-3), the most important and shortest route connecting Machike to Mahmood Kot or Karachi depots.

Road Safety Officer Majid Rafiq Minhas has been assigned the task to visit companies whom oil tankers have been involved in accidents, the SSP said. He said that upon visit to Pakistan State Oil company and a private company in Machike depots, the road safety officers elaborated incidents’ reasons and lapses recorded in research held on two incidents. The carelessness in driving and lack of refresher courses were held major causes of the accidents. It was stated that no oil tanker be allowed to carry fuel without complete fitness certificates. Different checking points have been assigned the duty to check the certificates.