Sindh govt sets up coronavirus emergency fund

The funds will be used to treat coronavirus patients, aid suspected cases and related welfare work

KARACHI: A coronavirus emergency fund has been set up by the provincial government to provide healthcare facilities and assist daily-wage workers, stated Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in a video message on Sunday.

During the message, Shah urged philanthropists to donate to the Government of Sindh Corona Emergency Fund, with the account number 03015594456100, at the Sindh Bank.

He said that the contributions would help the government deal with the emergency situation, by allowing it to provide coronavirus patients with adequate healthcare facilities and treatment, conduct tests for suspected cases and provide relief for daily-wage workers who are now struggling to make ends meet amid the lockdown.

According to the video message, the fund will be operated by a five-member committee. The committee members will be Sindh chief secretary Mumtaz Ali Shah, Sindh finance secretary Hassan Naqvi, Edhi Foundation chairperson Faisal Edhi, The Citizen Foundation and Patient Aid founder Mushtaq Chhapra and Indus Hospital chairperson Dr Abdul Bari.



The committee will have the authority to dispense funds transparently and will ensure a third party audit of all its expenditures. The CM maintained that every rupee collected in the fund will be used for coronavirus patients, suspects and related welfare work.

Central control cell set up
Meanwhile, the Sindh Services, General, Administration and Coordination Department has established a Central Control Cell to address any issues pertaining to the province-wide lockdown enforced in the aftermath of coronavirus outbreak, stated a notification issued by Sindh Chief Secretary Mumtaz Ali Shah on Sunday.

As per the notification, the cell will operate round the clock and will maintain correspondence with other similar bodies established at Sindh IGP's office and divisional headquarters, as well as by Rangers, health department, home department and Provincial Disaster Management Authority, to duly address problems reported from across the province.

It will provide guidance and assistance to the public on any queries pertaining to the lockdown.