Usman Buzdar visits PDMA control room

LAHORE: Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar visited the head office of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and reviewed the control room monitoring system there. He observed the condition of different cities on dashboard live.

The CM was given briefing on locust and coronavirus situation, Insaaf Imdad Programme and flood. He was briefing that monitoring was being made for the possible arrival of locust from Balochistan and other provinces.

A large number of locusts are being seen at Barkhan, Dera Bugti, Dera Murad Jamali and Kashmoor. As many 2.8 million acres of land has been cleared from locust. The CM was also apprised that locally manufactured vehicle mounted machine cost ten time less and its performance is also excellent.

The CM expressed his keen interest in the vehicle mounted machine being locally prepared. The PDMA DG informed that corona situation across the province is being monitored each and every second in every city of the province in the PDMA control room.

All the departments and districts have been provided more than 0.8 million protective gowns, more than 0.7 million N-95 masks and other medical equipment along with spray machines, thermal guns, face shields and goggles.

The PDMA also provided funds of two billion and 27 crore to the divisional headquarters and districts in order to cope up with coronavirus. With the help of revenue field staff, the citizens coming from abroad are being identified in the districts.

The PDMA DG informed that tests of the citizens and their family members coming from foreign countries are also being conducted. PDMA is providing funds to the departments concerned and essential equipment collected from private institutions and philanthropists. Two phases of providing aid under Ehsaas Khifalat Programme have been successfully completed. Punjab is launching Insaaf Imdad Programme for the first time through its formulated data bank.

The CM directed the officers to complete all necessary arrangements and flood plans before arrival of flood and appreciated that PDMA is showing exemplary performance to cope up with the challenges.

For the first time in the history of the province, aid will be provided in a transparent manner through data bank and people can receive financial assistance in a transparent manner by sending messages from their homes, he said.

Usman Buzdar further disclosed that Ramzan Package will also be launched after Insaaf Imdad Programme. He said SoPs are also being formulated with the collaboration of federal government for home quarantine.

He said that he is reviewing the corona situation, locust situation, wheat procurement campaign and other programmes by visiting different cities of the province.

Usman Buzdar also granted approval for giving one month additional salary to the employees of PDMA on the recommendation of Provincial Minister Mian Khalid.

Earlier, Corporate Head of Nestle Waqar Ahmed presented Rs10 million cheque to the CM on reaching PDMA headquarters for the corona control fund.

The CM appreciated the assistance and cooperation of private institutions to cope up with corona and other disasters and urged the corporate sector to play their vigorous role in ensuring the welfare and betterment of the masses.

Provincial Minister Mian Khalid, information secretary and other officers concerned were also present.