Stay safe: Security alert ordered for Eid

Shahbaz says focus should be on security of mosques and Imam bargahs.

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday directed police to make foolproof security arrangements on Eid and the night before.

The chief minister chaired a meeting to review security situation in the province. He said focus should be on the security of mosques and Imam bargahs.

Sharif ordered police to take action against those brandishing weapons.

Earlier, the home secretary and inspector general (IGP) briefed the chief minister about arrangements made to protect lives and property of citizens. They said 42,000 policemen would provide security on Eid.

Security plan

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Zulfiqar Hameed on Monday ordered that security be increased at mosques, Imam bargahs and markets during Eid holidays.

The CCPO chaired a meeting of divisional superintendents (SPs) to review security situation in the city.

He ordered the SPs to enhance patrolling of busy city areas and entrances and exits of the city.

Operations DIG Haider Ashraf said action would be taken against those brandishing weapons or firing celebratory shots in the air.

The CCPO ordered the SPs to conduct search operations in their areas to check suspicious elements. Traffic police have devised a plan to ensure smooth flow of traffic, especially around mosques and parks, during holidays.

Chief Traffic Officer Tayyab Hafeez Cheema said three SPs, 12 deputy superintendents (DSPs), 1,800 traffic wardens, 250 patrolling officers and 90 inspectors would be on duty on Eid.

He said another 100 traffic wardens receiving training at Chuhng police centre had been called to help regulars.

Cheema said traffic wardens had been asked not to challan motorists for mild offences during holidays. However, he said, grave misconducts such as violation of traffic signals and one-way traffic would not be tolerated.

Separately, the National Highway and Motorway Police (NH&MP) continued a crack down on transporters overcharging passengers.

NH&MP officers imposed Rs1.06 million fines on 223 vehicles for overcharging 1,882 passengers, said DIG Bashir Ahmed Memon.

He said Rs333,385 was collected from transporters and returned to passengers.

Hospitals on high alert

The Health Department on Monday put all public hospitals on alert and have asked them to be prepared for emergencies.

A crisis management plan was also circulated to hospitals. A notification issued by the Health Department instructed hospital administrations to keep generators on stand by for continuous supply of electricity.

The hospitals were also instructed to ensure that there were adequate supplies of medicines and surgical equipment to cope with emergency situations emergency and surgical equipment.

The Health Department instructed hospitals to ensure attendance of senior doctors. The notification said extra beds in emergency departments should also be arranged. Hospitals were also asked to keep blood available in blood banks.

Separately, Chief Minister Adviser on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique chaired a meeting to introduce a web-based system to monitor the performance of health managers at hospitals.

The adviser instructed government departments to continue dengue larvae surveillance during Eid holidays.

He said hotspots of dengue mosquitoes at commercial places, graveyards, junkyards and construction should be eliminated.

Rafique directed town response committees to be more proactive. He said help of NGO cooperation should be sought for dengue surveillance in towns. He said special attention should be paid to “sensitive” districts, including Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan.

Rafique said all the departments should contribute to the campaign against dengue fever.

He said larvae samples found should be sent to the Institute of Public Health for evaluation.

Health Secretary Ejaz Munir, DG Health Dr Zahid Pervaiz and other officials attended the meeting.                                             

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2014.