CM Punjab urges strict SOPs implementation on Eid

Chairs meeting to review steps to contain virus

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that people should not abandon precautionary measures on Eidul Azha and strict implementation of safety measures to rein in the spread of coronavirus is necessary on the occasion.

Presiding over a high-level meeting on Saturday, the chief minister underscored that by following the principle of “stay home… stay safe” on Eid, citizens can protect themselves and their loved ones from coronavirus.

“People’s cooperation is the only way to cope with coronavirus. Less human interaction will help contain the spread of this highly contagious disease,” he remarked.

He stressed that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) should strictly be implemented on Eid and appealed to citizens to celebrate the festival with simplicity and take precautionary measures while slaughtering the sacrificial animals.

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Buzdar highlighted that joint efforts of the government and people had greatly helped the country deal with the pandemic. “These efforts have proved fruitful as the number of patients in hospitals has decreased significantly,” the CM said.

He alleged that the opposition with negative politics “made unsuccessful bids to divide the nation over the coronavirus pandemic”. “The nation will never forgive such elements. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the government's policy of smart lockdown has proved successful. Those who are doing criticism for the sake of criticism should keep quiet now.”

He said that the Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf leadership had not left the people alone in the coronavirus pandemic, whereas leaders of opposition remained busy in just issuing statements while ignoring the people alone in the difficult times.

Coronavirus has affected the world politically, socially and economically, he said. He pointed out that 65,009 patients have recovered out of 89,465 infected patients in Punjab so far. The province has conducted 634,246 coronavirus tests. During past 24 hours, he indicated, 442 patients got infected whereas eight people lost their lives to the viral disease.

The chief minister further highlighted that the number of high dependency units in Punjab was 2,546, out of which 2,240 were vacant.

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Similarly, 507 out of 600 beds in ICUs are vacant. In Lahore, out of 508 high dependency units, 442 are still free and out of 210 ICU beds,166 are vacant.

Buzdar said the Punjab government has provided all necessary resources for the treatment of coronavirus patients.

The meeting also reviewed measures taken to deal with the spread of coronavirus pandemic, the results of the smart lockdown and the arrangements made to provide treatment for the coronavirus patients.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Minister for Health Dr Yasmeen Rashid, chief secretary, infrastructure additional chief secretary, secretary specialised healthcare and medical education, principal secretary to the chief minister and secretary primary and secondary health.

Meanwhile, Buzdar ordered indiscriminate crackdown against the buyers and sellers of sacrificial animals at illegal points in urban areas. He said that legal action will be taken against those who are involved in buying and selling sacrificial animals in urban areas without any discrimination.

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He directed the local administration and police to stop the sale and purchase of sacrificial animals inside the city limits besides strict enforcement of coronavirus SOPs on the occasion of Eid.

"No one can be allowed to violate Covid-19 SOPs," he warned, adding that administration and police officers should themselves go out in the field to review the situation. Implementation of SOPs is in the interest of the

citizens, he concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2020.