Punjab suspends biometric attendance for health workers

Notification mentions manual attendance must be ensured of all hospital staff

LAHORE: As part of the preventive measure against novel coronavirus outbreak in the country, the Punjab Government temporarily suspended biometric attendance of health workers.

A notification issued on Sunday stated that the decision to suspend biometric attendance was taken to ensure health and hygiene of staff in hospitals and other health facilities.

However, the notification mentioned that manual attendance must be ensured of all staff, to avoid any interruption in public service delivery.

The decision mirrors Balochistan government's suspension of mandatory biometric verification at all institutions for a month.



Coronavirus pandemic leaves authorities, people unnerved in Punjab

Action plan to contain outbreak

On Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) to cobble a unified approach to contain the outbreak.

The huddle was attended by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed provincial chief ministers, top advisors and cabinet members.

It was decided to close borders with Iran and Afghanistan, allow only three airports – Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore – to operate international flights in limited numbers while other airports will see domestic flights, and ban public gatherings.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has been tasked to coordinate with provincial governments and lead the fight against novel coronavirus. It was also decided to close all educational institutions until April 5.

In a first, the Pakistan Day parade on March 23 have also been cancelled.

Pakistan facing major COVID-19 challenge: WHO

Precautionary measures in Punjab 

 In wake of a surge in coronavirus cases and the following imposition of a health emergency across Pakistan, the provincial government has taken several steps to contain the pandemic.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has handed over his helicopter to the provincial health department for quick transfer of coronavirus patients to hospitals and swift delivery of equipment and medicines across Punjab.

To avoid the risk of coronavirus infection among the prisoners, the chief minister has also announced a two-month remission in jail term.

The chief secretary issued instructions to the provincial departments to remain alert and keep close coordination with the federal government.

He directed all the field officers to ensure compliance with the Punjab government’s directions about the closure of all educational institutes and ban on all kind of gatherings for the next three weeks throughout the province. He also asked them to get implemented orders regarding the closure of all marriage halls, banquet halls, marquees, cancellation of all kind of religious congregations, ceremonies and public gatherings, and ban on meeting with prisoners in jails for three weeks across the province.

He said in the wake of impending coronavirus alert, all educational institutions including schools, colleges, medical colleges, technical and vocational institutions and universities, both public and private, be kept closed for three weeks and all examinations being conducted or to be conducted during the coming three weeks be cancelled. He said that all tuition centres and seminaries would also be closed and only foreign students may be allowed to reside in hostels of madaris. The PSL matches will be played without crowds, he added.

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