Punjab requisitioning army, Rangers for Muharram

Chief minister Buzdar says timely steps helped contain spread of coronavirus pandemic

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said on Monday that the province had returned to pre-coronavirus position, stressing that the timely steps taken by the provincial and district authorities yielded positive results in containing the spread of the pandemic.

Talking to the media persons at PSCA, the chief minister expressed satisfaction with the “wonderful cleanliness arrangements” on the occasion of Eidul Azha while the army and the Rangers were being requisitioned for Muharramul Haram.

“We have remained safe” from the large coronavirus related losses, he said. “All activities have been restored today except educational institutions and holding of big congregations. I pay tribute to those who played their role in overcoming this virus,” he added.

“I have presided over a meeting of the cabinet committee on law and order to review Muharramul Haram arrangements and all stakeholders have been consulted in this regard,” he said. “Best arrangements for Muharramul Haram will be made this year,” he added.

“The cabinet committee will keep an eye on preparations by holding regular meetings. It will visit every divisional headquarters to monitor the arrangements and army and Rangers are being requisitioned during Muharramul Haram.”

The Punjab chief minister told reporters that the overall situation in the province was much better than other provinces. He added that other challenges had also been handled well by the government. He praised the authorities concerned for the “most effective steps” to deal with the locust attack.

About the arrangements during rains, he said: “It’s the monsoon season. The authorities concerned has been directed to go into the field to provide relief to the people as the people should not face any difficulty.”

In reply to another question, Buzdar said that those who wanted to create obstacles in the way of providing relief to the masses were spreading fake news about the government. “Sometimes an organised propaganda is initiated against us to creating instability and halt process of the province.”

In reply to another question, Buzdar said that provincial ministers for food and industries had been directed to take necessary steps to stabilise the prices of flour and sugar. He disclosed that Punjab has purchased 4.1 million tonnes of wheat during the current year.

He told reporters that a 20-kilogramme flour bag was available at Rs860 in the province. Federal Statistics Department had also acknowledged that the situation in Punjab was quite better as compared to other provinces, he added.

“We are taking stern action to check artificial price-hike and are also undertaking legal action against those found involved in this practice,” the chief minister said. He highlighted that prices would be monitored on a daily basis and he himself would reviews the steps taken for price control.

Buzdar said that the Punjab Safe City was a state-of-the-art project. “With the blessings of Almighty Allah, our government will launch the Safe City project in Rawalpindi and in other cities,” he added. “We have traced all the cases with the help of Safe City cameras.”

When asked about National Accountability (NAB) notice, the chief minister said that he would not go to the NAB office with a large number of people. “I will personally appear before NAB and will present my point of view.”

The chief minister advised the people to adopt precautions and strictly implement the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to contain the spread of Covid-19, especially during the month of Muharram.