Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has directed to release all the citizens arrested for violating section 144 during coronavirus campaign. The Punjab Insaaf Imdad Programme has been started from today. The applicants will apply online/SMS and Rs 4000 will be paid to the needy family after verification. Meanwhile, cement factories have been exempted from the imposed restrictions due to coronavirus. While giving a media briefing after chairing a meeting of the cabinet committee on coronavirus at Civil Secretariat, the chief minister stated that Rs10 billion have been earmarked for providing a grant to 25 lakh families under Punjab Insaaf Imdad Programme. It is not required to visit any office for seeking aid and there will be no governmental interference to ensure complete transparency, he maintained. He said the local government department will conduct antiseptic spray in seminaries and mosques. However, people should avoid going outside unnecessarily. The 100-bed field hospital at expo centre will be made functional tomorrow, he added. The chief minister told that the total number of confirmed coronavirus patients in Punjab is 662 and the situation is under control. The government will provide resources to medical researchers for the preparation of coronavirus vaccine and the SOPs of home-based quarantine will also be issued after consultation with the doctors coming from China. The CM informed that district-level committees are being formed for the provision of PPEs in hospitals and quarantine centres. These committees would be comprised of Deputy Commissioners and other officials, he added. Around 1200 tests are been conducted daily in Punjab and the capacity of conducting 5000 to 7000 coronavirus tests will be achieved after the establishment of BSL-3 level labs at divisional level, he added.
The government appreciates all those performing duties for overcoming coronavirus pandemic, he said. To a question, he said that campaign is underway to deal with the hoarders. An emergency plan has been devised to deal with any untoward situation and supply of essentials will not be affected. He disclosed that the Punjab government initially contacted Dr Tahir Shamsi for consultations about the treatment of coronavirus. The experts are researching at the University of Health Sciences and Pakistan will surely succeed in preparing vaccine. He told that more than 10,000 recruitments will be immediately made in police and approved vacant posts will be filled in phases. Similarly, Rs 25 crore will be provided to police for investigation and operational matters. 500 single cabin pickups will be purchased for police and Rs75.57 crore will be provided in the next budget for procurement of additional 182 vehicles, he added. The under-construction building of police stations will be got completed and new buildings of 101 police stations will also be constructed after the transfer of government lands. He also assured that police khidmat centres will be made commensurate with the latest needs and steps will be taken to make police a public-friendly institution. Provincial ministers Raja Basharat, Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan, Chief Secretary, IG Police and relevant secretaries attended the meeting.