‘With COVID-19 tally set to keep rising, Sindh CM in touch with experts’
PPP minister assures of full cooperation to Centre, procuring more safety kits for medical staff
PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Pointing out that health experts had predicted the country's coronavirus tally to hit 50,000 by April 25, Sindh Information and Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said in a video statement on Sunday that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was in constant communication with medical experts on the matter.
Separately, while receiving 150 safety kits from a team of overseas doctors, the minister addressed the problem of shortage of personal protective equipment and assured them that the Sindh government was working in collaboration with the federal government to deal with the coronavirus crisis.
The minister said that Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had also instructed the party's leadership to collaborate and fully cooperate with the federal government in the battle against the coronavirus. However, the federal government's response to the problem, though it arrived, was still delayed, he remarked.
He also clarified that safety kits were being handed over to the medical staff at different hospitals as and when received, adding that orders for more PPE kits had been placed as well.
Furthermore, he dispelled reports of a ban on the movement of essential commodities and goods in Sindh, also asserting that no restrictions had been imposed on the transport of goods from Karachi Port.
"Essentials are being supplied to retailers without any interruption on a daily basis and all claims [regarding the ban on the movement of goods] are baseless and substantiated," he said.
Later, while meeting a volunteer team comprising overseas doctors, who presented him 150 safety kits for doctors and paramedical staff, the minister requested them to provide all possible assistance to the Sindh government in dealing with the pandemic.
He apprised the team of the measures taken by the Sindh government to curb the spread of the coronavirus and claimed that it was due to the provincial government's efforts the province was faring relatively better in terms of the spread of the infection.
The minister said that a budget had been fixed for purchasing safety kits for health workers and orders for PPE kits had been placed, ensuring that they were delivered at the earliest possible time, as per the CM's directives.
Acknowledging that collective efforts were the need of the hour, he said that the Sindh government was cooperating with Centre on the matter unconditionally.
He expressed gratitude to the team for their contribution, in addition to acknowledging the assistance provided by the People's Republic of China, welfare organisations and individual donors during these challenging times.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2020.
Pointing out that health experts had predicted the country's coronavirus tally to hit 50,000 by April 25, Sindh Information and Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said in a video statement on Sunday that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was in constant communication with medical experts on the matter.
Separately, while receiving 150 safety kits from a team of overseas doctors, the minister addressed the problem of shortage of personal protective equipment and assured them that the Sindh government was working in collaboration with the federal government to deal with the coronavirus crisis.
The minister said that Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had also instructed the party's leadership to collaborate and fully cooperate with the federal government in the battle against the coronavirus. However, the federal government's response to the problem, though it arrived, was still delayed, he remarked.
He also clarified that safety kits were being handed over to the medical staff at different hospitals as and when received, adding that orders for more PPE kits had been placed as well.
Furthermore, he dispelled reports of a ban on the movement of essential commodities and goods in Sindh, also asserting that no restrictions had been imposed on the transport of goods from Karachi Port.
"Essentials are being supplied to retailers without any interruption on a daily basis and all claims [regarding the ban on the movement of goods] are baseless and substantiated," he said.
Later, while meeting a volunteer team comprising overseas doctors, who presented him 150 safety kits for doctors and paramedical staff, the minister requested them to provide all possible assistance to the Sindh government in dealing with the pandemic.
He apprised the team of the measures taken by the Sindh government to curb the spread of the coronavirus and claimed that it was due to the provincial government's efforts the province was faring relatively better in terms of the spread of the infection.
The minister said that a budget had been fixed for purchasing safety kits for health workers and orders for PPE kits had been placed, ensuring that they were delivered at the earliest possible time, as per the CM's directives.
Acknowledging that collective efforts were the need of the hour, he said that the Sindh government was cooperating with Centre on the matter unconditionally.
He expressed gratitude to the team for their contribution, in addition to acknowledging the assistance provided by the People's Republic of China, welfare organisations and individual donors during these challenging times.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2020.