ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated 250-bed Isolation Hospital and Infectious Treatment Centre for coronavirus patients in the federal capital on Thursday along with Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan.

Speaking to media persons, later on, the prime minister underlined the need and urged the entire nation to celebrate Eidul Azha with simplicity, and observing standard operating procedures (SOPs) due to coronavirus as carefulness at this point in time could save the country and people from the danger of coronavirus spread, and the country would come out of the pandemic.

He said that with the help of the departments and the provinces, the curve of coronavirus was on a slide as there were visible signs that smart lockdown had eventually started giving positive and encouraging results.

The premier said Pakistan had so far been included among those countries where corona-related deaths were relatively less and infection rate was low.

He forewarned carelessness at this stage could prove dangerous, therefore, "I appeal to the entire nation to celebrate Eidul Azha with simplicity and perform the religious obligation with complete observance of the SOPs."

The prime minister said he would like to congratulate the NDMA for constructing state-of-the-art hospital for corona patients in a short span of time.

Earlier, NDMA Chairman Lt General Muhammad Afzal briefed the prime minister about the isolation hospital, which is part of a long-term plan against coronavirus because the people have to live with the pandemic as long as a vaccine is not available.

The 250-bed state-of-the-art medical facility has been constructed in record 40 days at a cost of about 980 million rupees and there are five wards at the facility.

Pakistan has also started making ventilators and the first batch of locally-made ventilators was handed over to the National Disaster Management Authority.

Planning Minister Asad Umar and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020

Comments

Comments are closed.