Govt to seal off virus hotspots in Punjab

Commissioners to alter five working days, if required

LAHORE: To barricade the rising tide of coronavirus cases in Punjab, the provincial administration has decided to seal off zones with 15 virus cases, a measure that earlier was adopted in some places of the country, in the initial days of the lockdown.

In view of the exponential growth of cases in Punjab, provincial administration decided to strictly enforce the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for containing the spread of coronavirus during a high-level meeting.

Directions were issued to all the divisional commissioners to ensure implementation of precautionary measures and take strict action including imposing fines in case of violation late on Thursday. The said decisions were taken at a meeting held at the Chief Secretary's Camp Office to review the situation of coronavirus, implementation of SOPs, and the artificial shortage of petrol.

Senior Provincial Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, Industries Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, Chief Secretary Punjab Jawwad Rafique Malik, Additional Chief Secretary Home, Commissioner Lahore, CCPO Lahore and officers concerned attended the meeting whereas IG Punjab, divisional commissioners and RPOs participated through video link.

The meeting decided that zones with more than 15 cases will be sealed to ensure that the no one from affected area gets out and similarly no one from outside gets in. the Punjab government, gearing up for the turbulent times, in March, during initial days of coronavirus outbreak, had ordered to develop a mapping of all union councils of the province.

After the mapping of UCs was done, the entire province was further subdivided into zones. According to the CS office, live data of every Covid-19 case was available zone-wise, with the provincial administration. It was revealed that where ever the system flag from 15 to 20 cases or more, the said zone would be sealed to arrest the spread of the deadly virus.

Furthermore, permission was granted to commissioners to alter five working days of markets as per the requirement of their respective areas. It was revealed that Gujranwala Commissioner during the aforesaid meeting relayed the concerns of the traders, of altering off days on which CS allowed the commissioners to take this decision in this regard on their own, till the time a clear policy is given by the provincial government.

Addressing the meeting, Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan asked the administrative and police officers to ensure strict implementation of the SOPs and said that no leniency should be shown to violators. He ordered that in case of violation, markets, shops, malls, industrial units, and transport be closed immediately.

It was decided in the meeting that full administrative assistance would be provided to OGRA for taking action against the perpetrators of the artificial petrol crisis and administrative officers would also be given the powers to take action under section 3 maintenance of the public order (MPO) ordinance.

Khan appreciated the performance of the chief secretary, IG Punjab and other officers and said that the "welfare of government employees is our priority”. He mentioned that officers and employees of health, police, and other departments affected by coronavirus while on duty would be given the best treatment facilities and special package in case of death.

The meeting also decided to liaise with local companies to ensure the supply of medical oxygen because of the possible increase in Covid-19 patients. The Chief Secretary Punjab directed the divisional commissioners to send recommendations regarding the arrangements for Eidul Azha and Muharram so that the strategy could be finalized in their light.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar chaired a meeting at his office on Friday to review the coronavirus situation. The meeting decided to take steps for stopping the increasing cases of coronavirus in Lahore. It decided to send recommendations to the Centre to further strict the restriction of SOPs.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2020.