LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar chaired the meeting of Provincial Apex Committee at his office on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Corps Commander Lahore Lt. Gen. Majid Ehsan, General Officer Commanding 10-Division Maj. Gen. Muhammad Aneeq-ur-Rehman Malik, DG Rangers Punjab Maj. Gen. Muhammad Amir Majeed, Law Minister Raja Basharat, Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Chief Secretary, IG Police, ACS (Home) and high level civil and military officials.
The meeting reviewed the steps being taken to deal with coronavirus, as well as the future roadmap, and decided to effectively implement the action plan against coronavirus. The participants expressed the commitment to utilize all possible resources for saving the people from coronavirus. The military leadership assured their full cooperation to the civil government. The meeting decided that governmental steps will be implemented in letter and spirit for safety from coronavirus and any violation will not be tolerated. It was agreed to utilize collective efforts for implementing the decisions made in the meeting. It was also decided to make the screening and movement system at entry points of Punjab more effective.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister emphasized that extraordinary steps are required to deal with the unusual situation and reiterated the government will go to every extent to save the lives of the people. There is no option except to win the war against coronavirus and both political as well as military leadership is on one page to deal with this pandemic, he added. He maintained that every segment of the society should play its role for effectively dealing with the coronavirus adding that this pandemic will be eliminated at every cost. Arrangements have been made to quarantine five thousand people in DG Khan, Bahawalpur and Multan, he added. Usman Buzdar reiterated that the Health Department will be provided with every possible resource to deal with the coronavirus threat adding that these steps have been taken to protect the people.
Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Majid Ehsan, while addressing the meeting, said that Punjab government is taking effective steps for dealing with coronavirus. We are extending cooperation to the government at every level to overcome it. It is a national cause and we will fully support the civil government, he added. The meeting was told that the number of coronavirus patients has increased to one lac and 98 thousand in the world. There are 239 confirmed patients in Pakistan while the number of coronavirus patients is 26 in Punjab. The meeting also pondered over the proposal to set up quarantine facility in Taftaan by the Punjab government and another proposal was also reviewed to change Hajj Terminal in Lahore as a quarantine centre for the suspected passengers. ACS (Home) and health secretaries briefed about coronavirus related situation and precautionary measures.