Alvi stresses delivery of essentials to destitute

Promises provision of medical equipment, emergency drugs

LAHORE: President Dr Arif Alvi has commended the efforts of the Punjab government with respect to controlling the spread of the contagion and stressed on the need to provide ration as well as financial aid to the impoverished as soon as possible.

He expressed these views while chairing a briefing by the Punjab government regarding ‘COVID-19: Prevention, Mitigation and Control’ at the Civil Secretariat on Wednesday. Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, Provincial Ministers Muhammad Basharat Raja, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Aslam Iqbal and Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Punjab Chief Secretary (CS) Maj (Retd) Azam Suleman Khan, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Shoaib Dastagir and secretaries of relevant departments attended the meeting.



The president was briefed about the performance of various departments particularly the health department to contain the pandemic. He was also informed about the continuation of educational activities, lockdown and exemptions, heat mapping, CM's Insaf Imdad Programme and other steps taken by the provincial government.

The president prompted the authorities to ascertain strict compliance of pandemic prevention standard operating procedures (SOPs) by industries and businesses allowed to operate despite general lockdown. “The labourers should be issued standard identity numbers/ passes so that they are not barred from going to their workplaces.”

Moreover, he stressed on the need to take Ulema on board while deciding about congregational prayers, especially ‘Taraveeh’ in the upcoming month of Ramadan, if the health emergency persists in the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2020.