‘SOPs week’ concludes

Public places inspected, masks, sanitisers handed out

ABBOTABAD:

The Hazara Divisional Administration’s inspection campaign to ensure implementation of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) standard operating procedures (SOPs) across all districts concluded on Tuesday, an official shared.

During the ‘SOPs implementation week’, all districts conducted regular inspections of marketplaces, restaurants, marriage halls, parks, mosques as well as public transport facilities and distributed face masks, sanitisers and gloves amongst the general public.

The official shared that awareness sessions were also conducted in remote areas along with public announcements done through loudspeakers and special sermons given by the clergymen during Friday prayers.

Hazara Commissioner Riaz Khan Mahsud said that successful interactive sessions and meetings were held with older members of the districts while the ulema also ensured observance of anti-Covid-19 measures in public places.

He shared detailed statistics regarding the campaign, according to which 8,211 transport service providers were inspected while a total of Rs199,480 were imposed along with 107 vehicles impounded as fines on the violators.

Similarly, out of 809 mosques inspected, inspection teams took action against eight of them whereas 11,526 marketplaces were inspected and 221 were found to be in violation of SOPs. As a result of this, the violating spaces were sealed and a total amount of Rs460,970 was imposed as fines.

Mahsud further stated that 353 marriage halls were inspected out of which one was sealed over violations and a fine of Rs18,500 was imposed on the owner. He mentioned that about 1,372 restaurants were also inspected out of which 40 were sealed with a total amount of Rs199,510 imposed as fines.

Finally, some 7,159 public places such as parks were also inspected and a total of Rs11,522 was imposed as fines on violators.

Additionally, the commissioner shared district wise statistics for the campaign wherein 233 vehicles, 34 mosques, 190 marketplaces, 16 marriage halls, 29 restaurants and 85 other public places and parks were inspected in Abbottabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2021.