CM Usman Buzdar approves direct aid to the needy in Ramazan

LAHORE:Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has given in-principle approval to provide direct financial aid to deserving families in Ramazan and the decision has also been made that Ramazan Bazaars will not be established due to coronavirus situation. This was decided in a meeting which held under the chair of the chief minister at CM's Office Thursday to review relief arrangements under Ramazan Package.

The chief minister announced that needy families would be given financial aid under Ramazan Package and added that necessary procedure be devised at the earliest. The government wants to give relief to the maximum number of people and it has also decided not to establish Ramazan Bazaars, he said. He directed to take effective measures to stabilise the prices. He emphasised that no one would be allowed to create artificial price hike and administrative measures would be utilised to provide essential items at the fixed rates. Unlawful increase in the rates of essential items will not be tolerated and the government will make every effort to provide relief to the people, he added. Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, Provincial Ministers Raja Basharat, Hashim Jawan Bakht, Chief Secretary, SMBR and others attended the meeting.

additional salary: Usman Buzdar has announced giving one-month additional salary to doctors and other staff engaged in the treatment of coronavirus patients adding that this salary will be paid from 1st April.

Addressing the meeting of cabinet committee for the eradication of coronavirus at his office here Thursday, the CM reiterated that the heirs of an employee, died during the anti-corona drive, would be not be left alone; and if anybody dies, the heirs will be provided financial aid under martyrs package.

The chief minister directed that government orders regarding extension in lockdown be got implemented at any cost adding that no violation would be allowed. Out of 3,232 coronavirus patients in Punjab, 550 have been recovered, he said. He emphasised the industries allowed to resume work would have to follow their SOPs and action would be initiated in case of any violation. He announced that four new labs had been raised which would be made functional in the next few days after approval from Punjab Healthcare Commission. Around 56,000 testing kits are available in Punjab and more than 46,000 people have been tested by the Punjab government, he told. The extension in lockdown has been made under the Punjab Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Ordinance, 2020 and every step was taken to protect the people’s lives. The meeting reviewed the coronavirus situation, availability of PPEs and other material and the precautionary measures in detail.

Provincial Ministers Raja Basharat, Hashim Jawan Bakht, Chief Secretary, IG police, Commissioner Lahore, CEO Urban Unit, secretaries of health, finance, information departments attended the meeting from CMO through a video link. Secretary Local Government participated from Civil Secretariat and secretaries of P&D, labour, industries, food departments and special secretary agriculture department attended the meeting from P&D Department. Chairman PITB participated from his office through a video link.

aerial view: Usman Buzdar took an aerial view of Lahore, Sheikhupura and adjoining cities to inspect steps taken for the implementation of the lockdown. He inspected the closure of markets, commercial centres and the flow of traffic on different roads. He aerially viewed parks, grounds and stadiums in different cities.

The chief minister also inspected industrial zones. He expressed satisfaction over the arrangements taken for prevention from coronavirus pandemic and lauded the role being played by the deputed personnel of Police, Rangers and Pakistan Army. He expressed concern over traffic on some roads of Lahore City. He appealed to the citizens to follow the government’s instructions and restrict themselves to their homes. The government is paying special attention to protect the masses from this outbreak and they will remain safe by following the government’s instructions, he said.

The Punjab government has extended the lockdown until 25 April under The Punjab Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Ordinance, 2020 as safeguarding the lives of the people is a top priority, he emphasised. He indicated that the necessary steps would be continued to protect the lives of the people. He said that all the markets, shopping malls, restaurants, public and private offices and public transport would remain closed. Similarly, there will be a ban on holding religious congregations and social gatherings. The ban on events, fairs, sports competitions, opening of gyms and snooker clubs will remain imposed throughout Punjab, he added.

Wedding halls, marquees, educational institutions, tuition centres and seminaries will remain closed until April 25. He said the ban on holding examinations had also been extended. Notified government employees will be allowed to visit offices, he said. Pillion-riding will remain banned in the province. Grocery stores, retail shops, bakeries, opticians, pesticides, seeds and fertilizers shops, auto-workshops, agricultural machinery workshops and vendors will remain open from 9am to 5pm. The Punjab government has decided to open low-risk industries and SOPs have also been formulated in this regard, the CM concluded.