Rs6.74b distributed in Punjab under PM’s Ehsaas Plan

LAHORE:Chief Secretary Major (r) Azam Suleman Khan has directed that SOPs regarding prevention of coronavirus be implemented strictly at the centres set up for distribution of financial assistance continued in the province under the Prime Minter’s Ehsaas Kifalat Programme.

He issued these directions while presiding over a meeting to review the situation caused by coronavirus in the province. The meeting was attended by Inspector General of Police Punjab Shoaib Dastgir, Commissioner Lahore Saif Anjum and officers concerned whereas divisional commissioners and regional police officers joined through a video link.

The meeting was briefed that under the PM’s Ehsaas Programme, an amount of Rs6.74 billion was distributed in the province during three days and around 559,849 persons have benefited from this financial aid. A sum of Rs2.88 billion was disbursed among 235,000 people on Saturday. The chief secretary said that healthcare facilities for coronavirus patients had been increased by establishing field hospitals in the province, adding that protection of people, doctors and paramedics from this highly contagious virus is the government’s priority. He ordered the officers to ensure conditional opening of industries on the basis of export orders and implementation of relevant SOPs there, besides taking on board chambers of commerce to obtain details of export orders from these factories.

Discipline Ehsaas Programme distribution centres: Police continued to ensure peaceful and disciplined distribution of financial assistance among the deserving citizens under Ehsaas Programme on a second day in the City.

At least 1,000 police officers and officials were deputed at all the Ehsaas Programme disbursement centres in the City. Meanwhile, police officials adopted all standard operating procedures (SOPs) set to prevent the spread of coronavirus during the distribution of cash at the centres. They also guided people to wear safety masks, wash hands, use sanitizer and strictly implement queue system maintaining safe distance from each other.