‘K-P working on aid package to fight Covid-19’

CM says authorities told to finalise mechanism of package

PESHAWAR: A day after the federal government announced an aid package to mitigate impacts of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the provincial government on Wednesday said that it is working on a relief package for its residents.

This was stated by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan after he visited the quarantine centre set up at the Shahakas Levies training centre in Landikotal.

CM Mahmood said that a relief package for the public, especially the daily wagers, was necessary for the wake of the pandemic.

He said that the relevant authorities have been tasked with finalising a mechanism for the fiscal stimulus and assured that it will be announced soon.

After reviewing the quarantine centre, the chief minister visited the Landikotal District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) and the Jamrud Fort to review facilities at the quarantine centres established there for suspected Covid-19 patients coming from Afghanistan via the Torkham border.

During the visit, Mahmood was briefed that the quarantine centre can accommodate 130 suspected coronavirus patients. A high dependency unit, with capacity for 30 individuals, has also been set up at the hospital with all the necessary protocols.

The chief minister was further informed that separate rooms with washrooms and other basic facilities have been provided in the quarantine centre and its capacity can be enhanced to accommodate up to 40 people.

Similarly, quarantine facilities have been set up in Bara and Tirah with capacities of 120 and 30 individuals respectively. The chief minister was told that arrangements for complete chlorination inside and outside the premises of quarantine centres have been completed.

Later, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) officials briefed the chief minister that they have made arrangements for at least 600 individuals who are expected to cross the border into Pakistan.

Mahmood said that along with all other necessary measures, the provincial government has appointed doctors on an emergency basis for the treatment of coronavirus patients.

He added that the provincial government is focused on stemming Covid-19 infections in the province and that it will not shy away from taking further measures in this regard. 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2020.