Extraordinary steps need to be taken to deal with coronavirus, says Punjab CM Usman Buzdar

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Wednesday said that extraordinary steps needed to be taken in light of the situation created by the coronavirus epidemic breaking out in the country.

The chief minister made the remarks while chairing a meeting of the Provincial Apex Committee at his office here on Wednesday to review steps taken to deal with the coronavirus threat, The News reported. 

The meeting was attended by Corps Commander Lahore Lt-Gen Majid Ehsan, General Officer Commanding 10-Division Maj-Gen Muhammad Aneeq-ur-Rehman Malik, Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, and others.

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The meeting reviewed the steps being taken to deal with the coronavirus as well as the road map regarding containment of the epidemic.  

The participants expressed their unwavering commitment to utilizing all possible resources for saving people from the coronavirus. The military leadership promised full cooperation to the civil government as well. 

The officials present at the meeting decided that the government's steps would be implemented in letter and spirit for safety from coronavirus and any violations in this regard would not be tolerated by the authorities.

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It was agreed that collective efforts would be made for implementing the decisions made in the meeting. It was also decided that the screening and movement system at entry points in Punjab would be made more effective.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister emphasised that extraordinary steps were needed to deal with the unusual situation and reiterated that the government would go to any extent to save people.

"There is no option except to win the war against coronavirus and both political as well as military leadership are on one page to deal with the pandemic," he told the participants of the meeting. 

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He maintained that every segment of society should play its role for effectively dealing with the coronavirus threat, adding that the pandemic would be eliminated at every cost.

"Arrangements have been made to quarantine 5,000 people in Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur and Multan. The Health Department will be provided with all possible resources to deal with the coronavirus threat," he said.

Corps Commander Lt-Gen Majid Ehsan, while addressing the meeting, said that the Punjab government was taking effective steps for dealing with coronavirus pandemic in the province. 

Also read: Coronavirus pandemic makes inroads into South Punjab

“We are extending cooperation to the government at every level to overcome it," he said, and added that it was a national cause and full support would be provided to the civil government in this regard.

The meeting was told that there were 239 confirmed patients of the virus in Pakistan while the number of patients was 26 in Punjab. The meeting also pondered over the proposal to set up quarantine facility at Taftan. 

Originally published in The News