Citizens urged to help avert Covid curbs

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar made it clear on Sunday that the government did not want to impose restrictions but the people should adopt precautionary measures against coronavirus.

The chief minister said in a statement that the Omicron variant was not a simple virus and it could prove dangerous. Therefore, the vaccination, including its booster dose, is utmost necessary.

He said the coronavirus preventive standard operating procedures (SOPs) should be strictly followed while offering prayers in the mosques.

Stressing the need of following the SOPs, he said the government did not want to impose restrictions but the people should adopt the precautionary measures.

The chief minister said adopting the precautionary measures was the only way to prevent coronavirus infection. The cooperation of the people was very important in this regard, he stressed.

Read CAA bans meals in domestic flights amid Omicron upsurge

Chief Minister Buzdar appealed to the citizens to receive the booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine six months after the earlier vaccination.

Meanwhile, the chief minister reiterated during a meeting that the government gave due importance to the suggestions of public representatives regarding development projects. He was speaking to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Abrarul Haq and Major (reted) Israrul Haq who called on him. Matters of mutual interest, the political situation as well as development schemes of Narowal and Lahore came under discussion during the meeting.

The leaders discussed the Lahore Elevated Expressway and Shahdara Mor multi-level grade separation projects.

The chief minister said the government was making serious efforts for the composite development of all cities of the province. For the first time, development projects for Lahore were being planned while keeping in view the need and convenience of the citizens, he claimed.

He said the government was working round the clock for ensuring that the people benefitted from the results of development.

Chief Minister Buzdar said the elevated expressway would greatly help in reducing traffic on the other roads of the provincial capital.

He said work was being carried out to ease the traffic flow at the entry and exit points of the city. The Shahdara Mor multi-level grade separation flyover will help improve the traffic flow from and to the GT Road. The project will be completed as soon as possible and commuters on approximately 300,000 vehicles will benefit from the flyover daily.

The chief minister said the project would help improve the traffic flow at Ring Road, Kot Abdul Malik, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, GT Road and adjoining areas.

He said the first level of the flyover would have three lanes for each direction of GT Road, whereas a two-lane carriageway would be constructed from Kot Abdul Malik to Niazi Chowk at the second level.

In another development, Lahore police informed the chief minister that they had apprehended the accused in 14 out of 15 incidents of heinous crimes upon which he had ordered action during the past three months.

A report revealed that the 14 cases were under trial and most of the accused had been transferred to judicial custody for legal proceedings.

Chief Minister Buzdar said the purpose of taking notice was to ensure prompt justice to the people. He said the practice would be carried on after reviewing the news from the media and other sources.

The chief minister also took notice of an overseas woman and her four children having gone missing from Saray Alamgir and sought a report about the incident from the Gujranwala regional police officer immediately.

Chief Minister Buzdar directed the police to utilise all resources to recover the missing family.

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2022.