Supply of essential items to be improved: CM Usman Buzdar

LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has said 550 pilgrims in DG Khan quarantine facility are being sent homes as they test negative for coronavirus.

The government also decided to improve the supply of essential items to facilitate people facing lockdown, he said while addressing a meeting to review efforts to counter coronavirus on Thursday.

He asserted that there was no shortage of any basic need including flour, vegetables, fruits, etc. and availability of daily-use items in markets will be fully ensured. He directed officials to initiate crackdown against hoarders and profiteers as people cannot be left at their mercy. He directed for improving the food supply chain. He expressed satisfaction that new testing labs will be soon made functional to provide corona test facility at the divisional level. The government has released 62 crore rupees to the health department for this purpose besides allocating three thousand beds for coronavirus patients in government hospitals, he said. Along with it, the availability of three thousand beds in private hospitals has also been identified. The government has further arranged 50,000 beds through mapping of hostels of different educational institutions, said Usman Buzdar. He stated that 12 billion rupees have been released to the health department for the procurement of necessary medical equipment for doctors and paramedics. The Punjab government has also approached the federal government to start the Zakat deduction process one month earlier, he disclosed and added that necessary arrangements have been made to treat the coronavirus patients.

The stock and supply of essential items, as well as procurement of necessary medical equipment, was reviewed in detail. Ministers Raja Basharat, Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Hashim Jawan