LAHORE - The provincial apex committee which met here Wednesday to take stock of the corona situation in Punjab considered the option of a complete lockdown in Lahore and other cities with a higher rate of corona positivity.  

The meeting was attended by Corps Commander Lahore, Lt Gen Muhammad Abdul Aziz, GOC 10 Division Maj Gen Muhammad Aniq-ur-Rehman Malik, DG Rangers Punjab Maj Gen Muhammad Amir Majeed, Law Minister Raja Basharat, Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, SACM Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Chief Secretary, IG police, ACS (Home) and high ranking civil and military officials.

The participants expressed serious concern over the rising number of corona cases and death rate in different cities including  Lahore and expressed reservations over the lack of effective implementation of SOPs. It was decided to ensure strict enforcement of corona SOPs.  The meeting reviewed the proposal of complete lockdown in Lahore and other cities having an increased number of positive corona cases.  It was also decided to further severe restrictions in cities with more than 8 per cent ratio. 

The meeting also reviewed the proposal of using hospitals only for corona in Lahore and other major cities. The meeting further decided to take every possible step to ensure the supply of oxygen and the participants agreed that violation of steps aimed at saving the lives of the people will not be tolerated.  The military leadership assured full cooperation to the civil government for implementation of SOPs to deal with the corona pandemic. The CM thanked the military leadership for its cooperation.

The participants extended sympathies to bereaved heirs and appreciated the role of health professionals. The commitment was shown to utilize every possible resource to save the people from coronavirus. 

The meeting further agreed to take collective measures to implement the decisions and the assemblage agreed that closing-time of markets and bazaars will be ensured through administrative steps.

The meeting was told that the positive cases ratio had increased to 13 per cent in Punjab as more than 2,600 corona cases have been reported while 127 patients lost their lives during the last 24 hours.   It was decided that all business activities will remain closed from 6:00 pm to Sehri except medical stores, petrol pumps, vaccination centres and other essential services.  The Chief Minister while addressing the meeting said that vaccination had been expedited as more than 40,000 people were vaccinated on Tuesday. 

A total of one million have been vaccinated in Punjab, he added.  The CM made it clear that legal action will be taken over overcharging or hoarding of oxygen cylinders.  He further stated that the recruitment of vaccinators and data entry operators had been approved and doctors and nurses will also be recruited if needed. He said health professionals will be given a special allowance like before. The CM declared that private hospitals will be bound to reserve beds for corona patients and they will not be allowed to overcharge the corona patients.  He said the Healthcare Commission had been directed to take steps in this regard. 

He said the government was fully determined to deal with the difficult situation and special measures had been taken to deal with the unusual situation. “Pressure is increasing on hospitals and success against corona is the only option. Political and military leadership is taking coordinated steps and every stratum will have to play its role”, he observed.  

Special cabinet body for anti-corona formed

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar Wednesday said the Punjab government had constituted a cabinet committee for anti-corona consisting of provincial ministers, civil and military officials to take decisions after a daily review. 

While addressing the presser at his office about the ongoing corona situation, he said that it had been decided to take every necessary steps to maintain the supply of oxygen and legal action will be taken on overcharging or hoarding of oxygen cylinders. The Healthcare Commission has been directed to monitor the rates of private hospitals, he added.

He said health professionals will be given a special allowance like before. The CM thanked the military leadership for deployment of the Army and Rangers for the implementation of corona SOPs.  Giving details, the Chief Minister said that during the last 24 hours, 20,600 patients have been tested positive whereas, 127 lost their lives.  A total of 8,224 persons have died of corona in Punjab, he added.

Giving city-wise data of positive corona cases, the CM said: “The corona positive ratio is 38 per cent in Khanewal, 32 per cent in Okara, 24 per cent in Sahiwal, 20 per cent in Vehari, 23 per cent in Lahore, 18 per cent in Mianwali, 16 per cent in Narowal, 15 per cent in Multan, 14 per cent in Faisalabad, 12 per cent in Sargodha and 11 per cent in Rawalpindi”.

He further stated that the ratio of positive corona cases was more than 8 per cent in 22 districts while the ratio of the positive cases had reached 13 per cent in Punjab. He said the government was dealing with coronavirus but it was spreading rapidly and the health system had been burdened.   “The oxygen demand has been tremendously increased.   The number of serious patients on ventilators in hospitals is increasing and the government is actively vaccinating the people as over one million have been vaccinated.

The number of vaccination centres has increased and Rs 1.5 billion has been approved to procure corona vaccine”,  he averred, adding that the government is determined to deal with the difficult situation.

The CM appealed to the people to follow corona SOPs and government instructions for saving lives. “Winning the battle against corona is the only option and everyone will have to play its role in this regard”, he said.   Replying to a question, the CM asserted that more restrictions will be enforced in the wake of the prevailing situation though the government does not want to put people in trouble.  The Chief Minister warned that the situation could lead to complete lockdown. “However, observance of SOPs is a responsibility of the government; therefore, strictness will have to be shown now”.  

To another question, he said 136 vaccination centres were working and the Punjab government will procure around one million doses. “30 million dozes are being delivered soon and the federal government is also providing vaccination doses. Corona vaccine is in great demand in the whole world and the government is trying to procure vaccine doses as soon as possible”, he said.

Answering a question, he said the cabinet committee has been constituted to hold a daily review. “Strictness will be shown where needed and flexibility will be displayed where required. I have received complaints about crowds in markets and a strategy is being devised to avoid the rush of the people in Bazaars”.

To a question, he said Punjab police are performing their duty in the best of manner and Armed forces are called in the difficult situation the world over. “Pak Army belongs to all of us and all are collectively dealing with this pandemic”, he said.

Responding to a question, he said a 400 per cent increase had been observed in the demand for oxygen cylinders and the government was considering shifting oxygen from the industrial to the health sector. He said the issue of milk and yoghurt shops will also be solved.  

Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, SACM Firdous Ashiq Awan, Chief Secretary, IG police, ACS (Home) and others were also present.

 

CM to chair cabinet meeting today

 

Punjab Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar will chair the 43rd meeting of the provincial cabinet today (Thursday) at his office at 11: 00 am to review the 18-points agenda.

Ministers, Advisors, Special Assistants, Chief Secretary and others will attend the meeting.