LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar presided over a meeting of anti-polio taskforce here on Monday that resolved to take effective measures for complete eradication of polio from the province.
The Chief Minister reiterated that polio-free Punjab is a mission of government and no leniency will be tolerated in this regard. The importance of the anti-polio campaign has been increased due to the coronavirus pandemic and deputy commissioners should monitor the anti-polio campaigns in their respective districts as the government wants Punjab to be totally free from polio disease, he asserted.
Warnings have been issued to deputy commissioners of some districts for failing to hold meetings about the eradication of polio in their districts and action will be initiated against the CEO (Health) if any polio case surfaced in the district. The deputy commissioners will also be held accountable while good performing officers will be encouraged.
The Chief Minister said the situation is better in Punjab as compared to other provinces but the administration should burn the midnight oil for the success of this campaign. The IG Police will arrange complete security for polio workers and SOPs for safety from coronavirus will be followed during this campaign, he added.
The meeting decided to exempt polio workers of more than 50 years age from field duty and they will also be screened before going to the field. He directed to ensure effective monitoring of the anti-polio campaign as saving the children from this disease is a collective obligation. He further directed to launch a vigorous awareness campaign, adding that the health department's teams should ensure to administer anti-polio drops to every child.
Earlier, the Secretary Primary & Secondary Health briefed about the details of anti-polio campaign. Provincial ministers Dr Yasmin Rashid, Murad Raas, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, Chief Secretary, administrative secretaries and WHO officials attended the meeting while commissioners, RPOs and coordinator NPP participated through video link.
CM DIRECTS AVAILABILITY OF FLOUR BAGS AT GOVT RATES
Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has directed the provincial price control committee and food department to ensure availability of flour bags at fixed rates in the markets.
The Chief Minister said that no hurdle will be tolerated in the availability of flour bags at the government rates. Every possible step be taken in this regard and a report should be submitted to the CM Office along with indiscriminate action against hoarders, he further directed.
Ample wheat stock is available in Punjab and prior release of wheat to flour mills has also been ensured to stabilize the flour prices, he said. Any false increase in the prices of flour bags is unacceptable and monitoring of crushing of wheat in flour mills should be made strict, the CM added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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