LEAs issue alert as fear of virus takes Lahore by storm

City Traffic Police stop biometric attendance of wardens

LAHORE: In the wake of the spread of novel coronavirus, the law enforcement agencies in Punjab including Punjab police, National Highways and Motorways Police and the Federal Investigations Agency have also geared up to counter the pandemic and issued guidelines in this regard.

The directives included a pause in biometric attendance for some time, refraining from hug, handshaking and taking care in the handling of the steering wheel of vehicles and application of hand sanitisers.

Issuing the directives on Friday, Inspector General of Police Punjab (IGP) Shoaib Dastagir, directed the officers concerned to ensure implementation of prevention and precautionary measures in the wake of rising danger of coronavirus so that officials in the offices and field could save themselves from the virus.

A letter carrying details of all precautionary measures have been dispatched to all the Regional Police Officers (RPOs), District Police Officers (DPOs) and unit chiefs of Police in which all written with details.

First locally transmitted coronavirus case emerges in Karachi

Moreover, an awareness session was held at the Central Police Office to save the employees from the danger of coronavirus in which Additional IG operations Inam Ghani briefed the police officials regarding precautionary measures and also directed them to strictly implement the same.

While addressing the officials, Additional IGP Operations said all officials suffering from cough, flu and fever should cover their mouth and nose with surgical masks and also avoid hugging and handshaking and close contact with others.

He said sanitisers should be used for cleaning hands and prevention from germs.

Windows of the rooms of offices should be kept open and fresh air should be allowed to pass into rooms. The toilet should be kept dried and clean and hand washing should be ensured.

Use of sanitisers in washrooms of police stations, offices and police lines should be ensured and washing of hands and mouths should be repeated many times. The instructions also stressed the use of tissue papers instead of towels in washrooms.



All officials should keep sanitisers in their pockets. The person affected with flu and nasal blockage should use masks and in the case of fever and flu, the doctor should be consulted immediately.

The disease includes the symptoms of trouble in breathing, fever, flu and cough. Pneumonia is also one of the symptoms of this disease in critical condition which causes respiratory syndrome and failure of kidneys.

The set of instructions suggested that fresh fruits should be used. Information material with pictorial samples should be made available at all police offices and stations.

Field formations also started implementing the orders. City Traffic Police Lahore has halted wardens from biometric attendance and asked the wardens to mark attendance in a register.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2020.