Officers told to provide best facilities to quarantined patients

LAHORE:Punjab Chief Secretary Major (r) Azam Suleman Khan has directed the officers concerned to provide best healthcare as well as food and other facilities to coronavirus patients in quarantine and isolation.

He warned the officers that no negligence or laxity would be tolerated in this regard. The chief secretary said that it was prime responsibility of the government to look after the coronavirus patients.

He issued the directions to the officers during a meeting held to review coronavirus situation in the province. The meeting was attended by Provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat, Additional Chief Secretary Home Momin Agha, Inspector General of Police Punjab Shoaib Dastgir, Lahore Divison Commissioner Saif Anjum and other officers concerned, whereas, other divisional commissioners joined the meeting through video link.

The meeting was briefed that the process of sending quarantined pilgrims, participants in Tableeghi Ijtamaa and other citizens to their hometowns had started after they were tested negative for coronavirus.

The areas sealed to curb spread of coronavirus are also being opened and nine different areas in Gujranwala have been de-sealed. The chief secretary directed that after completion of quarantine period those tested negative be sent their home but trace, track and test (TTT) system particularly be continued in their respective areas.

He mentioned that in view of the holy month of Ramazan the poultry shops had been allowed to remain open till 8pm. The meeting decided to take stern action against opening of factories and private offices other than those exempted by the Home Department. It was also decided to depute a special secretary for monitoring of matters relating to dengue.

Provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat said that performance of all officers was praiseworthy in this hour of need. He asked the field officers to enhance coordination with the ministers and elected representatives to fight coronavirus through concerted efforts. The IG Punjab told the meeting that security plan for the month of Ramazan had been finalised. He ordered the regional and district police officers to ensure enforcement of Section 144 to contain the spread of coronavirus.

HED secretary: The Punjab government has yet to post a regular incumbent against the post of secretary of Higher Education Department (HED) Punjab despite passage of six months.

Ever since the transfer of Dr Raheel Siddiqui, Secretary HED Punjab, in October 2019, the department has been waiting for a regular incumbent. After the transfer of Dr Raheel Siddiqui, Special Secretary HED Sajid Zafar Daal was given the additional charge of the post of Secretary HED which he continued to date rendering some exceptional services to promote higher education in the province. One of his many initiatives includes HED Punjab’s ambitious regulatory role through which private sector universities of the province were made to follow the government’s rules and regulations.

The Punjab government on Wednesday transferred and posted Sajid Zafar Daal as Commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan Division and instead of posting a regular incumbent, the government once again entrusted the additional charge of the post this time to Ms Sarah Aslam, Secretary of the Labour and Human Resource Department.