Committees to keep stringent check on sugar, flour prices in K-P

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz on Monday ordered all the commissioners of K-P to ensure implementation of coronavirus standard operating procedures throughout the entire province.

While presiding over a high level meeting, Dr Niaz directed to form separate committees comprising of the home secretary, industries secretary and commissioners to keep a stringent check on sugar and flour mills for availability of these items at stable prices in the market. He also ordered to tighten the grip around hoarders.

The chief secretary highlighted how it is imperative for all the commissioners to adopt the best strategies to deal with the second wave of Covid-19 in their respective divisions.

He emphasised collaboration with the health department to ensure accurate and scientific statistics of Covid-19 cases. “Smart lockdowns should be tightened in areas where cases are rapidly rising,” Dr Niaz said.

The top provincial bureaucrat added that the second wave is extremely dangerous and the implementation of SOPs in all public and religious places is highly important. “All the commissioners must seek assistance from the Ulema as they had played an active role in the first wave and ensured implementation of SOPs in mosques and religious places.”

Towards the end of the meeting, Dr Niaz also spoke about precautionary measures to control dengue and expressed satisfaction over the clear reduction in polio cases as compared to last year.

The meeting was attended by administrative secretaries, commissioners and regional police officers along with the K-P Inspector General of Police Dr Sanaullah Abbasi.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2020.