Covid-19 cases ‘lower than expected’, SC judges told

Govt functionaries brief apex court judges about measures taken to curb viral outbreak

ISLAMABAD: The judges of the apex court were informed on Wednesday that the number of Covid-19 cases in the country was lower than the government’s estimates.

The superior judiciary was also briefed on quarantine facilities, protective gear for doctors and paramedics and provision of relief to the people suffering economically because of the lockdown.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed chaired a meeting attended by four other Supreme Court judges and several government functionaries.

At the outset of the meeting, the chief justice raised the issues related to the government’s measures to tackle the viral outbreak including the closure of OPDs, testing capacity and safety of doctors and paramedical staff.

Health Minister Dr Zafar Mirza briefed the participants about the current statistics and response of the government at federal and provincial levels and the WHO protocols.

He also explained the precautionary measures taken so far by the government at all levels to fight the pandemic. He also shared the government’s roadmap to tackle the crisis.

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He said emergencies at all hospitals were open round the clock. Private hospitals have not been restricted from operating during the lockdown. They can operate after fulfilling health protocols suggested by the WHO.

Passengers coming from foreign countries are being quarantined as per WHO protocols. Moreover, health workers are being trained on daily basis to enhance their capabilities.

National Disaster Management Authority Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal briefed the chief justice about the procurement and availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, masks and other essential items at hospitals. He added that more laboratories were being set up to increase testing capacity.

Adviser to the PM on Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar told the participants that economic activities had come to a halt because of the outbreak and people were losing their jobs.

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The government has launched programme to help 12 million families under the Ehsas programme through which Rs12,000 each will be disbursed to deserving families through the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) software and the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) records. The amount will be disbursed after biometric verification. Health protocols to control the outbreak of Covid-19 at the places of disbursement will also be followed.

The chief justice asked the government functionaries to work hard to achieve success against the disease.

The four judges present at the meeting were Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed.

Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan, Health Secretary Dr Tanvir Ahmed Qureshi, Poverty Alleviation Secretary Ali Raza Bhutta, BISP Secretary Yousaf Khan, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hazma Shafqat and Supreme Court Registrar Khawaja Daud Ahmad were also among the participants.