Businesses running with smart lockdowns in place: Umar

Planning Minister Asad Umar has said business activities are continuing as the government has been able to control coronavirus from spreading by imposing smart lockdowns in Covid-19 hotspots.

“The government is constantly increasing the capacity for treatment of virus patients,” the federal minister said during his visit to the newly established 250-bed Isolation Centre and Infectious Diseases Hospital here on Saturday.

The minister was flanked by National Disaster Management Authority Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal.

Umar praised the efforts of the medical staff in fighting the pandemic with national spirit.

Talking to the media, Umar said that the new hospital in the capital would play a key role in preventing epidemics.

“Despite limited time, establishment of new hospitals is a reflection of national spirit,” he added. “Businesses are running while the smart lockdown strategy is helping control coronavirus from spreading.”

Earlier, Umar and Lt Gen Afzal visited various departments of the hospital and reviewed the state-of-the-art facilities available there. The minister was also given a briefing by the NDMA chairman regarding the facilities and operation of the hospital.

The Isolation Centre and Infectious Diseases Hospital was built and commissioned in just 40 days with $4 million financial assistance from China.

Umar appreciated the quality services being provided at the hospital and praised the spirit of the hospital staff as well as the NDMA’s.

The minister also visited the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and received a briefing from the Executive Director Maj Gen Dr Amir Ikram on the working of the institute for the prevention and control of various diseases.

Umar visited various departments of the NIH, including the Emergency Operations Centre. Praising the staff, he said that the response of the NIH, especially after the Covid-19 outbreak, was highly commendable.