LANDI KOTAL: The district administration in collaboration with local health authorities have established 11 quarantine and insulation centres in Landi Kotal as part of its efforts to tackle any possible emergency situation arising out of the danger related to coronavirus.

Additional Assistant Commissioner Shamsul Islam told Dawn that the centres were established on the directives of the provincial government. He said that about 300 suspected persons could be provided necessary medical care at those centers.

He said that temporary centres set upat Government Degree College Landi Kotal, Government High School LandiKotal, veterinary hospital, offices of the communication and works department, higher secondary school for girls, high school in Ghafoor Khan Kallay, high school in Zeen Tarra, middle schools in Sheikhwal and Gagra and insulation ward at the district headquarters hospital in Landi Kotal.

The official said that health staff would be made available at all the centres round the clock along with provision of four ambulances and free food to people admitted there.

Mr Shams said that the local administration would constantly monitor travel history of all those, who had recently returned from abroad. The administration has also imposed ban on social gatherings while local prayer leaders have advised worshippers to avoid unnecessary and prolonged stay at mosques.

Meanwhile, thousands of Afghan nationals, aspiring to go back to their country, rushed to the border crossing on Sunday. Long queues of returning Afghans were seen at the Torkham immigration offices as authorities had earlier warned them to cross the border before the expiry of the last date.

It was also learnt that taxi drivers fleeced Afghan nationals by increasing fares almost three times. A number of taxicabs from other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had also converged at Peshawar Naway Adda bus stand, Peshawar Board Bazaar and Karkhano Market to take Afghan nationals to the Torkham border.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2020