Hoarders warned of action

Parliamentary secretary on health says complete lockdown only solution

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Nousheen Hamid on Sunday warned of action against hoarders, profiteers and violators of the lockdown.

Talking to a private television channel, she said that the government has launched a crackdown against hoarders of essential commodities and traders who are minting money from the public on food items by charging higher than prices approved by the district administration of the city.  Commenting on the attitude of the public during the lockdown, she said that non-observance of the standard operating procedures and social distancing was one of the main reasons for the rising number of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) patients in some parts of the country.

The government, the law enforcement institutions and administration, she said, has made special arrangements for sealing areas where coronavirus cases are detected and reported either by local community members or the media.

Dr Hamid said that it is the responsibility of every citizen to follow the SoPs and precautionary measures for the safety and security of their families.

In reply to a question about a confrontation between traders and doctors on the lockdown, she said that only the strict implementation of lockdown was the solution to protecting people from coronavirus.

However, she said that Pakistan is a poor country and a complete closure of all businesses could trigger the miseries for daily wage workers and the labour community. However, she said that they are taking measures to implement the SoPs and lockdown where needed.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2020.