Punjab govt decides to open offices related to construction

LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided that development authorities, including LDA and sections of government department related to construction sector, would be opened with skeleton staff to facilitate the construction business in the province.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting presided over by Chief Secretary Azam Suleman Khan. Secretary Specialized Healthcare Nabeel Awan, Secretary Primary Healthcare Muhammad Usman, Commissioner Saif Anjum, CCPO Zulfiqar Hameed and officers concerned attended the meeting whereas divisional commissioners and regional police officers joined through video link.

The meeting also decided to open specific sections of Revenue Department including Fard and property transfer for four or five hours to accommodate people associated with construction business. Speaking at the meeting, the chief secretary said that the opening of relevant offices would help people get approved building designs, besides ensuring that other necessary services are provided.

He directed that SOPs regarding coronavirus prevention be implemented at all offices being opened. He mentioned that eight laboratories have been upgraded in phase 3 to enhance capacity of conducting coronavirus tests daily in the province.

Secretary Primary Health Muhammad Usman briefed the meeting that two labs in Lahore and one each in Rawalpindi, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Wazirabad, Faisalabad and Multan have been upgraded. After the issuance of certificate by Punjab Healthcare Commission, these laboratories are fully functional. The chief secretary said that the Punjab government has completed three phases of upgrading of coronavirus test laboratories.

He maintained that capacity of conducting the virus tests was enhanced to 400 in first phase, upto 3,100 in second phase and after upgrading eight labs in third phase number of tests has been increased by 1,520. Now Punjab has acquired capacity to conduct 4620 coronavirus tests daily and after availability of automatic machines in three labs the number of tests would increase by 570, he said.