Hazara administration enforcing Covid guidelines

Commissioner reviews implementation of pandemic guidelines in public transport

ABBOTTABAD:

The administration in Hazara division is strictly implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) devised by the government to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease, said Hazara Commissioner Riaz Khan Mahsud on Sunday.

Commissioner Mahsud said that 252 sites and 395 vehicle stands were inspected beside 8,080 vehicles were checked out of which owners of 6,650 were fined for ignoring the Covid-19 SOPs in the Hazara division during the last one-and-a-half month.

Similarly, he said that 5,987 shops, 489 markets, 489 van stands, 542 restaurants, 184 wedding halls and 311 filling stations were inspected out of which 69 shops, five markets, 10 restaurants and five filling stations were sealed for violating SOPs.

While giving a presentation at his office to K-P Health Minister Taimoor Saleem Jaghra, commissioner said that Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Hazara has confiscated route permits of eight public service vehicles because their driver were not following SOPs.

Overall the fine worth Rs193,000 was imposed in Abbottabad district on the owners of 1,720 vehicles for violating the SOPs.

Commissioner Mahsud said that 2,110 vehicles were checked in Haripur and fines worth Rs176,500 were imposed on owners of 1,680 vehicles for ignoring the mandatory safety precautions announced to control the spread of Covid-19.

In Mansehra, 2,040 vehicles were checked and penalties worth Rs173,000 imposed on owners of 1,742 vehicles. Similarly, Rs86,400 were fined in Batagram district where 1,680 vehicles were checked and 1,508 were fined.

K-P Health Services Director General, Members Provincial Assembly, deputy commissioners of Abbottabad, Haripur and Mansehra and other stakeholders from Health Department were present during the presentation.

Meeting with Ulema

Hazara Commissioner Mahsud held a meeting with the Ulema of different sects regarding implementation of Covid-19 SOPs. He asked them to raise awareness among the people about the pandemic in Friday sermons. The Ulema assured their full cooperation with the divisional and district administration in this regard.

Earlier he chaired a meeting with transport association regarding implementation of SOPs. He directed the RTA secretary as well as the association to observe the SOPs issued by Transport Department. Abbottabad DC, RT Secretary RTA and representatives of transporters participated in the meeting.

Mahsud briefed the participants about the latest situation of Covid-19 especially in Hazara region and explained the guidelines and instructions of the government regarding implementation especially in transport sector. He asked the transporters to extend their full cooperation with the administration for implementation of SOPs. Transporters assured their commitment towards the task. Commissioner directed RTA and the DC to increase the inspection for implementing SOPs. Later, Mahsud with the RTA secretary visited and inspected different routes of the district to oversee the implementation of Covid-19 SOPs. On spot directions were issued to the officials concerned for the strict implementation of the guidelines laid down by the government for the prevention of the spread of novel coronavirus disease.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2020.