Punjab government to provide relief to industrial labourers losing jobs

The Punjab government has decided to provide relief to the industrial labourers rendered jobless due to lockdown and has directed its officers to prepare list of such people.

Chief Secretary Punjab Major Azam Suleman Khan (retd) has directed to compile data of such people at a meeting held here on Tuesday to review the situation arising out of coronavirus spread in the province.

Provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Momin Agha, Commissioner Lahore Saif Anjum, CCPO Zulfiqar Hameed and officers concerned attended the meeting whereas divisional commissioners and regional police officers joined through video link.

The Chief Secretary said that the government is fully aware of the financial problems being faced by daily wagers due to coronavirus, and taking concrete measures to provide relief to them. He mentioned that under the Prime Minister's Ehsaas Programme distribution of financial aid among deserving persons is underway in the province.

The chief secretary said that best healthcare for corona patients as well as protective gears for doctors and paramedics are being provided. He ordered the officers that transportation of wheat and pulses by license holder dealers and PASSCO is not stopped to ensure uninterrupted supply of the commodities across the province. He said that farmers would be given all possible facilities during wheat harvest and procurement campaign.

The meeting was briefed that participants of Tableeghi Ijtamaa from other provinces, who had completed 14-day quarantine and tested negative for coronavirus, have started leaving for their hometowns. First batch of these participants of Tableeghi Ijtamaa include 465 persons, said the additional chief secretary home. The meeting was told that arrangements have been completed in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Rawalpindi in connection with the arrival of passengers from abroad.