The Punjab government has constituted a special committee under the supervision of Punjab Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakhat to review the effects of coronavirus on economy.

Moreover, in order to deal with coronavirus at local level, the committees will also be set up at district level under the supervision of deputy commissioners and it will comprise of members of civil society.

These decisions were taken during a meeting of the Cabinet Standing Committee held here on Tuesday to review coronavirus situation in Punjab. The meeting was chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar.

While addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that the Punjab government is fully aware about the threat of coronavirus and all the administrative arrangements for dealing with coronavirus have been completed.

"There is a complete liaison with the federal government over coronavirus issue. The government will not take such decisions that create the atmosphere of panic and fear," he added.

According to him, available resources should be utilized in a logical manner to cope up coronavirus. Those who are involved in masks-hoarding will be dealt with an iron hand. "90,000 masks have been recovered during operations against hoarders in Rawalpindi and Lahore".

"The quarantine facilities will be established for more than 3000 coronavirus affected patients in the Labour Colony of Multan. Hostels rooms of educational institutions will be used for isolation," he added.

On the occasion, he was briefed about precautionary measures being taken by the government to protect people from coronavirus and the participants of the meeting gave their recommendations in this regard.

The meeting was informed that NDMA will provide 10,000 safety suits within a week. One thousand safety kits have reached, whereas, 5000 more kits will soon be supplied. On the occasion, provincial ministers Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Hashim Jawan Bakhat, Muhammad Akhtar Malik, Member Provincial Assembly Mussarat Jamshed Cheema, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, SMBR, secretaries of concerned departments, Commissioner Lahore Division, DG PDMA, head of Special Monitoring Unit and high officials attended the meeting. Secretary SH&ME and Secretary P&SH attended the meeting through video link from Commissioner Office Multan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020

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