Buzdar launches Punjab relief programme

Needy families can apply online or through SMS for financial assistance

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has formally inaugurated the Punjab Insaf Imdad Programme (PIIP) through which the government will disburse Rs4,000 to the needy families after verification of their credentials.

Addressing a media briefing following a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Buzdar highlighted that the needy families would apply online or through SMS for financial assistance under the programme. “The citizens will not have to visit any office for seeking aid and there will be no political interference in the program to ensure complete transparency,” he said.

He highlighted that the government has earmarked Rs10 billion for the program which will provide financial assistance to 2.5 million families across Punjab.

The chief minister directed officials to release all citizens arrested for violating Section 144 during the partial lockdown. He also appealed citizens to avoid going outside unnecessarily and stay in their homes to contain the spread of coronavirus.



He said the Local Government Department will conduct antiseptic spray in seminaries and mosques. A 100-bed field hospital at Lahore Expo Centre is being made functional on Wednesday (today).

Buzdar highlighted that the total number of confirmed coronavirus patients in Punjab is 662 and the situation is under control. The government will ensure the availability of all necessary resources to medical researchers for the preparation of the coronavirus vaccine. The standard operating procedures (SOPs) for home quarantine has been put on hold for a couple of days. “The government will issue the home quarantine SOPs after consultation with Chinese doctors who have already reached Lahore and their meeting with local doctors and scientists is scheduled,” Buzdar said.

He also pointed out that district-level committees were being constituted for the provision of the personal protection equipment (PPE) in all hospitals and quarantine centres. “These committees will comprise of deputy commissioners and representatives from the Pakistan Army and other government agencies.”

The chief minister also highlighted that around 1,200 coronavirus tests are been conducted daily across Punjab. This capacity will increase up to 5,000 to 7,000 coronavirus tests after the establishment of the BSL-3 labs at divisional level, he added.

Answering a question, Buzdar said the provincial government had contacted Dr Tahir Shamsi for consultations about the treatment of coronavirus. Experts at the University of Health Sciences (UHS) are conducting research and the country will surely succeed in preparing coronavirus vaccine.

He indicated that the government has decided to recruit 10,000 personnel in the police department and approved vacant posts will be filled in phases. A sum of Rs250 million will be provided to police for improving the efficiency of investigation and operational wings.

“Around Rs755 million will be provided in the next budget for the purchase of 182 new vehicles for the police department. The under-construction buildings of police stations will be completed and new buildings of 101 police stations will also be constructed after the transfer of government lands.”

He also assured that Police Khidmat Centres will be made commensurate with the latest needs and steps will be taken to make police a public-friendly institution.

The government appreciates all those performing duties for overcoming coronavirus pandemic, he said.

To a question, he said the campaign was underway to deal with the hoarders. An emergency plan has been devised to deal with any untoward situation and the supply of essentials will not be affected.

He also announced that cement factories have been exempted from the imposed restrictions due to coronavirus.

Provincial ministers Basharat Raja, Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, chief secretary, IG Police and relevant secretaries attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the convener of expert forum constituted for conducting research on coronavirus Dr Mehmood Shaukat, Vice Chancellor University of Health Sciences Dr Javaid Akram and other experts called on Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar at Civil Secretariat.

The chief minister was told that the manufacturing of PPE has been started in Punjab and it is in accordance with the international standards for safety from coronavirus. He directed the authorities to accelerate the manufacturing process of Personal Protection Equipment. It was disclosed in the special meeting that the mask of N95 level is also being manufactured locally.

The expert forum presented the report about their research and told the chief minister that the forum is researching to cure the corona with different medicines and DRAP has approved the study of Punjab’s experts about coronavirus.



The genome of local coronavirus’ is different from the Chinese coronavirus with nine changes therefore foreign vaccine can be ineffective for it. The chief minister was briefed that corona test kits will also be manufactured at the local level.

The tests of the anti-bodies test kit are in the progress. Two special triage centres will be established where corona patients will be referred to after the initial check-up.

Buzdar said that all-out resources will be provided for the research on the coronavirus. Punjab will the first province for preparing the corona vaccine at the local level. He said that ability will soon be achieved for providing protection kit and other items at the local level. Locally manufactured PPE and vaccine will be effective and be available at reasonable rates.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2020.