Usman Buzdar asks experts to accelerate research to eradicate coronavirus

LAHORE : Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has directed the experts to accelerate the research activities for the eradication of coronavirus.

A meeting chaired by the chief minister told that four study groups had been formed and research had been started under the supervision of University of the Health Sciences (UHS).

Usman Buzdar directed the experts to make fruitful efforts to deal with coronavirus as soon as possible. The CM was informed that BSL-3 Lab had started working in Jinnah Hospital and Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI).

The experts briefed the meeting that Covid-19 found in Pakistan was quite different from the coronavirus found in Wuhan and Iran.

The CM directed that security/safety suit and other personal protective equipment (PPE) be manufactured at the local level.

The meeting was informed that a textile mill owner from Lahore had offered to manufacture PPE voluntarily and free of cost.

The CM said that coronavirus should be treated in a scientific manner. The government wants a complete eradication of the menace, he said. He said that SOPs for home quarantine should evolve as soon as possible. He said the government wanted to get the ability to set up 200-bed field hospital as soon as possible.

The meeting was informed that China had offered to set up a hospital in Punjab besides deputing Chinese doctors there to cope with coronavirus.

UHS Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Javed Akram, Prof Dr Mahmood Shaukat, Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education secretary and other officers concerned attended the meeting.

cheque: Provincial Minister for Labour and Human Resource Ansar Majeed called on Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and presented him a cheque for Rs 6.3 million for CM’s Special Fund for Corona Control.

The amount was collected as the staff of PESSI, other than class-IV staff, discharged their national obligation by contributing to CM’s Special Funds for Corona Control, said a handout issued here on Saturday.

Talking on the occasion, the chief minister said the contribution of officers and staff of PESSI for controlling corona was praiseworthy.

He said the well-to-do of society should play an effective role in the government’s efforts for dealing with coronavirus.

The CM said the public support was utmost necessary to face the challenge like coronavirus, adding that coronavirus could be eradicated in a record time if every person played their due role.

Provincial Minister Ansar Majeed Khan said that they were standing side by side with the CM in his efforts for the eradication of coronavirus.

The Social Security Hospitals have already offered their services for the eradication of coronavirus, he added.

Provincial Minister for Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal was also present.