Balochistan to receive latest PCR machines

Two modern laboratories to be established by NDMA

QUETTA: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Thursday announced to provide  latest Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines to the Balochistan Government in order to double up their testing capacity after deciding to establish two BSL grade laboratories on a divisional level.

“Two Biosafety Level laboratories would be established in divisional level across Balochistan province,” NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal said.

The decision was taken in a meeting presided by Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan and NDMA chairman in order to review the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the province and the support provided by United Nations and Donor agencies.

It is pertinent to note that the Chairman of the UN Mission to Pakistan has assured full support of the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, UNFPA and WFP to Pakistan during the pandemic.

The meeting agreed that the UN agencies and donor partners would jointly work with provincial governments in Pakistan in order to carry on coronavirus awareness campaigns including surveys and training programmes for health staff.

CM Kamal termed Covid-19 situation in Pakistan as satisfactory as compared with western countries. “But we have yet to adopt safety precautions and measures suggested by WHO. New theories are being surfaced regarding activeness and movements of the novel coronavirus. Hence, the entire world will face major economic challenges in the near future and we have to live with this virus until a vaccine is developed in a few months.” Jam Kamal said.

The provincial chief executive went on to announce that the provincial government welcomes the support of international donors in averting malnutrition challenges lingering upon Balochistan.

“In the wake of a global pandemic, the provincial government has been working new concrete economic policies in order to avert Covid-19 challenges by using our own natural resources,” CM Balochistan said adding that we reacted in Taftan as a responsible government when the contagious virus outbreak was reported in Iran.

He maintained that the province has been handling the challenges imposed by the novel coronavirus through available resources and support of civil society. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2020.