Punjab govt to clamp down on hoarding of medicines

Minister claims steps being taken to provide best medical facilities to coronavirus patients

LAHORE: On the direction of the prime minister and Punjab chief minister, Punjab Minister for Industries Mian Aslam Iqbal and Punjab Chief Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik presided over a meeting in connection with launching a crackdown on those involved in black marketing and hoarding of essential medicines.

Lahore Division Commissioner Saif Anjum, Lahore CCPO Zulfiqar Hameed, and officers concerned attended the meeting while Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Shoaib Dastagir, divisional commissioners and regional police officers (RPOs) participated through video link.

The meeting decided to take stringent measures to ensure the supply and availability of essential medicinal drugs at reasonable prices. The provincial minister said that steps were being taken to provide the best medical facilities to coronavirus patients.

He added that all public and private hospitals would be bound to implement the decision of Punjab Healthcare Commission to freeze the charges for ventilators at the rates of February 2020.

It was decided that in view of the increasing cases of Covid-19, the federal government would be approached to procure 10,000 to 15,000 oxygen cylinders and the oxygen production companies would be exempted from power outages.

The chief secretary directed the IGP that the vehicles transporting oxygen would be allowed to run for 24 hours and these vehicles should not be stopped anywhere in the province.

The meeting reviewed the situation in the locked down areas and issued instructions to strictly enforce the wearing of face masks throughout the province and take action in case of violation.

The CS also asked the administrative officers to prepare a record of sugar stocks in the province and submit a report within three days.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2020.