Balochistan govt approves relief package for daily wagers

Balochistan govt will distribute ration among deserving families across province

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal on Friday approved a relief package of Rs700 million for daily wagers and poor families affected by the lockdown imposed in the province in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. Under the package, the government will distribute ration among deserving families.

The CM approved this package while chairing a meeting attended by Balochistan Minister for Finance Zahoor Buledi, Minister for Revenue Saleem Khosa, Home Minister Zia Langove, Balochistan Chief Secretary Captain (retd) Fazeel Asghar and civil and military officials.

The provincial food committee representative told the chief minister that the data of poor families was being gathered through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). He said the committee would ensure provision of food to the deserving families

The chief minister directed authorities to constitute district level committees to identify poor families affected by the lockdown. The committee to be headed by deputy commissioners would include also public representatives.

Lauding efforts of welfare organisations in launching the relief programmes in Balochistan, Kamal said, “The government will assist the organisations distributing ration among poor families.”

The meeting has approved to issue no-objection certificates (NOC) to donor agencies and the World Food Programme for registration related to social activities in Balochistan.

The meeting also decided to allocate funds of Rs10.5 million to divisional commissioners in order to provide safety equipment and food items in isolation wards and quarantine centres.

The chief minister reviewed purchase of safety kits, ventilators and testing kits for doctors and health staff and directed the officials concerned to approach the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for provision of safety equipment.

The meeting was informed that the provincial government utilized Rs70 million from allocated amount of Rs400 million for purchasing of medical and safety equipment following coronavirus pandemic. It was told that the provincial share of safety equipment provided by China would reach Quetta soon.

Kamal directed the finance minister to share precise figures of the amount released in order to deal with coronavirus challenge. The chief minister urged the attendees to ensure provision of safety kits for doctors and health staff performing duties in isolation wards and quarantine centres.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5^th, 2020.