People start receiving Ehsaas cash grants

RAWALPINDI: Underprivileged families started receiving cash grants from the government under the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme on Thursday.

Registered candidates gathered at outside the distribution points in Rawalpindi on Thursday to receive their cash grants. Of the 32 points established in Rawalpindi, only 18 were operational, where staff checked the information of applicants and gave them cash.

Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Capt (retired) Anwaarul Haq said that they were ensuring that all those arriving at the distribution points followed social distancing protocols as well as other precautionary measures.

Regarding the testing facilities in the garrison city, the official said that, currently, two laboratories are working in Rawalpindi to test for Covid-19. One of these was operated by the National Institute of Health (NIH) while the other was the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP).

We have procured equipment for a laboratory to be run under the Punjab government and that it will soon start working after the machinery is installed.

He added that the number of Covid-19 patients in the city has surged to 98 after nine of the 13 pilgrims, who were previously isolated at the quarantine centre in Multan and were shifted to Rawalpindi after completing their quarantine period, were found to be infected with the virus.

Further, he said that the district administration had received some 3,000 protection kits from a non-governmental organisation (NGO). It includes two facemasks, a small bottle of hand sanitiser and a bar of soap. Moreover, the NGO had donated three thermal guns to the district administration.

The DC added that they had established a control room to keep a check on the donations being received before being distributed through a volunteer force. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2020.