203-bed hospital opens in Pasrur

Buzdar inspects aid distribution among needy in Sialkot

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar visited Sialkot on Wednesday to take stock of medical facilities and aid distribution amid the efforts to cope with the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The CM inspected a 203-bed field hospital in Pasrur and commended the administration for setting up the facility in five days.

He expressed satisfaction over a separate isolation ward for females and other facilities. Field hospitals have been set up in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sialkot and other districts to provide facilities for coronavirus patients, he added.

The CM also inspected aid distribution among needy women under the Ehsaas Kafalat Programme in Sialkot. He enquired from the applicants about the arrangements, and they reportedly expressed their satisfaction over the transparent mechanism of aid distribution. The chief minister said the Ehsaas Kafalat Programme is the most transparent and largest aid distribution initiative in the history of the country. “I am supervising aid distribution in Punjab,” he added.



The director-general of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority apprised him about the aid distribution process and facilities offered in the centre. Members of the Tiger Force of volunteers in Sialkot called on CM Buzdar. The CM asked them to work hard for helping the needy, adding that those who work for the ailing humanity will get a reward in this life and hereafter. “I hope that Tiger Force jawans will set a new example of public service,” he added. Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Usman Dar apprised the CM about the objectives of the Tiger Force.

Chief Minister Buzdar also chaired a meeting at DC Office to take stock of different matters, including wheat procurement, eradication of dengue and coronavirus. He directed the administration to proactively work for public service and leave no stone unturned for providing relief to the citizens.

“The government is fully focused on the eradication of coronavirus and Rs15 billion has been released to the health department, while another Rs2.5 billion has been given to the PDMA for the procurement of necessary material to deal with the coronavirus, he said. He added that coronavirus diagnostic testing capacity is being increased to 10,000 daily.

He also stressed the need to give attention to the eradication of dengue and the procurement of wheat. “I have so far visited 17 districts to review the situation and every city is being monitored,” he added.

He regretted the dilapidated condition of Sialkot’s roads, saying no attention was given to their repair during the past decade. He said the PTI government will improve the road infrastructure, adding that a park adjoining the CPWB will also be revamped. He appreciated the performance of district administration, adding that praiseworthy steps have been taken for overcoming the spread of coronavirus.



The public representatives appreciated the work done by the chief minister for overcoming coronavirus and said is standing shoulder to shoulder with the people. Firdous Ashiq Awan said that Buzdar is personally monitoring the situation in the field by visiting different districts and he has given a new trend to public service. She said the CM is busy in public service day and night.

Industrialists’ cooperation

A delegation of industrialists called on CM Buzdar and assured him of their complete cooperation.

They also apprised the CM about their problems. The chief minister promised early solution to their problems, adding that the Punjab government has allowed some industries to resume their work. The implementation of SOPs has been ensured and more industries will be allowed to work after improvement in the situation, he said. The government is fully cognisant of industrialists’  problems. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2020.