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The decision was taken in line with the prime minister’s announcement of containment of Covid-19 through the smart lockdown strategy. The meeting, chaired by Minister for Planning Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives Asad Umar, undertook a comprehensive review of potential COVID-19 clusters and hotspots across the country.
“A total of 20 cities across Pakistan are identified as having a possible increase in ratio or speed of infection, which needs restrictive measures for containment of COVID-19. an equivalent is being shared with the provinces, the forum was apprised. Moreover, 80 hot spots in 9 areas of Lahore are going to be sealed.
In Islamabad, G-9/2 and G-9/3 had quite 300 cases and were sealed along side Karachi Company whereas the new hotspots in Islamabad, which were being monitored and could be sealed included I-8, I-10, Ghauri Town, Bhara Kahu, G-6 and G-7 sectors.
Various cities which have registered a rise in infection cases and are identified by NCOC for necessary restrictive measures include Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Swat, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Sialkot, Gujarat, Ghotki, Larkana, Khairpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Malakand and Mardan.
Meanwhile, chairing a gathering here to review the corona situation countrywide and therefore the measures, the prime minister emphasized the pivotal role of the general public in curbing the spread of coronavirus across the country by adopting precautionary measures, saying the govt was taking all-out steps to guard people from the virus Imran contended that the govt on the idea of latest estimates was taking all-out steps to guard people from the killer disease.
The meeting was attended by Information and Broadcasting Minister Shibli Faraz, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Interior Minister Ijaz Shah, Industries and Production Minister Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Finance Advisor Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Special Assistant for Information Lt Gen (R) Asim Saleem Bajwa, Focal Person Dr. Faisal Sultan, Chairman NDMA and senior officers participated also attended the forum.
Expressing satisfaction over meeting the requirements of protective clothing and kits within the country, he directed the local leadership to review the COVID-19 facilities in hospitals in their respective areas in cooperation with the administration and also play a vibrant role in ensuring people's cooperation in following the SOPs.
He said the provinces had been issued directions for smart lockdowns within the affected areas. “Steps should be taken while keeping in sight the bottom realities in order that a balance is made between precautionary measures and economic activities within the upcoming difficult weeks,” he maintained.
The meeting discussed the present status of the coronavirus, estimates for subsequent few days and steps to be taken to deal with things . the present status of beds, oxygen, ventilators and facilities for corona patients in several provinces of the country and therefore the steps to be taken to extend it were also reviewed.
The meeting was informed that at the present 107 laboratories testing corona are functioning within the country and 25,000 tests are being conducted on departure basis.
In the beginning, there have been only two of them. The meeting was informed that there are currently 4,800 ventilators within the country.
In the beginning, their total number was seven hundred. Of the prevailing 4,800 ventilators, another 1,600 are going to be added soon.
N-95 masks and ventilators are being manufactured locally within the country. The meeting was informed that by July, 2,000 more coveted beds would be added in several hospitals altogether the provinces.
Regarding the smart lockdown within the corona-affected areas, the meeting was informed that in 20 major cities of the country, places had been identified where the amount of the affected people was high and where administrative action by provincial governments and district administrations had been taken.
Noting the difficulties within the availability of a number of the medicines and injections employed by COVID-19 patients, Imran directed the chairman NDMA to make sure that the specified medicines and injections were readily available.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a review meeting on measures to scale back the costs of essential commodities. The meeting was attended by Minister for National Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam, Finance Advisor Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Trade Adviser Abdul Razak Dawood, Special Assistant Dr. Shahbaz Gul and senior officers. Provincial Chief Secretaries attended the meeting through a video link.
The four provincial chief secretaries requested the prime minister to bring down the costs of basic commodities, especially to make sure that the advantages of the many reduction in petrol and diesel prices by the govt were delivered to the notice of the people by reducing the costs of essential commodities.
The prime minister was also given an in depth briefing on administrative measures against stockpiling and adulteration of essential commodities.
The meeting was informed that the choice of the federal to permit inter-provincial movement of wheat had started yielding positive results but steps were being taken to bring down the costs of flour further.
Addressing the meeting, the prime minister said the reduction in petrol and diesel prices by the govt was aimed toward providing all possible relief to the people. He directed that each one the provincial chief secretaries should formulate a joint strategy to bring the fruits of the government's decision to the people of the country.
Talking about adulteration of essential commodities, the prime minister said that the monster of adulteration was causing unhealthiness to our youngsters , the elderly and therefore the nation. “In the past, adulteration has been neglected. Availability of pure goods reflects good governance so special attention should be paid to the present issue.”
Regarding the abundant supply of wheat within the country also as reduction within the price of flour, the prime minister directed the National control Committee to require all necessary steps during this reference to make sure the supply of flour to the people at an inexpensive price.
In a related development, Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a gathering to review progress on government initiatives under the New Pakistan Housing Scheme to create houses for low-income people and promote the development sector.
The meeting was attended by Chairman New Pakistan Housing Authority general officer (R) Anwar Ali Haider and senior officers, while Governor SBP Reza Baqir, former minister of finance Shaukat Tareen, Arif Habib, Mudassar Khan, Aqeel Karim Dhedi, Hassan Bakhshi et al. attended through the video link.
Chairman New Pakistan Housing Authority said in sight of the virus situation, a think factory consisting of experts within the field of construction had been formed to market the development sector and move the New Pakistan public housing forward. Recommendations are made regarding the management of monetary resources for the promotion of housing, especially for low-income people, and therefore the method to be adopted during this regard.
Regarding concessions within the construction sector, it had been informed that fees for transfer and registration of property had been significantly reduced and this had been implemented in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In addition, the New Pakistan Housing Authority is making special arrangements to facilitate developers and builders in order that they will easily avail themselves of the incentives provided by the govt within the construction sector.
The meeting considered intimately the recommendations of the think factory to be found out for the event of the development sector.
Imran said the New Pakistan public housing was the foremost important project of this government in terms of economic flow, which can enable the event of the many allied industries. He said in sight of the corona situation, the govt had paid special attention to the event of the development sector so on promote the development sector and make sure the provision of homes to the low-income people and supply employment opportunities to people.
He said the govt was providing assistance of Rs30 billion for the completion of latest Pakistan public housing in order that the project of providing private shelter to low-income people might be taken forward.
The prime minister directed that the recommendations of the think factory be finalized in consultation with the commercial banks to make sure the creation of monetary resources for housing projects under the New Pakistan Housing Scheme.
He directed that under the New Pakistan Housing Authority, a special cell comprising representatives of SBP, concerned ministries, provincial governments and relevant provincial departments should be constituted to enhance coordination and resolve construction related issues on means basis.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government spokesperson Musarrat Jamshed Cheema Monday said the provincial government was implementing mature decisions to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Talking to a personal news channel, she said the federal and Punjab governments were on an equivalent page to curb coronavirus. “It is impossible to prevent the spread of novel virus without the cooperation of masses,” she urged.
She warned that just in case of violation of the SOPs, the administration would take strict action against the violators.
Replying an issue , she said the govt had decided to completely seal off some areas of Lahore for 2 weeks thanks to rapid increase in coronavirus cases. She advised the general public to take care and avoid circulating rumors on social media.
Meanwhile, the amount of confirmed cases within the country rose to 148,617 and deaths to 2,834 on Monday.
Of the entire confirmed cases of 148,617, Sindh reported 55,581 cases, Punjab 55,878, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 18,013, Balochistan 8,177, Islamabad Capital Territory 8,569, Gilgit-Baltistan 1,143, and AJK 647.
Of 2,834 deaths, Punjab reported 1,081 deaths, Sindh 853, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 707, Balochistan 85, Islamabad Capital Territory 78, Gilgit-Baltistan 17, and AJK 13. Over 100 deaths and 5,248 new cases were reported within the last day . Meanwhile, DG Afghan Transit Trade Zahid Khokhar lost life to corona on Monday, confirmed the relations .
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