PESHAWAR: The government has released Rs500 million on emergency basis to procure essential medical supplies and personal protective equipment for effective prevention of coronavirus disease.

Addressing a news conference here on Sunday, Ajmal Wazir, the adviser to chief minister on information, said that coronavirus was an international issue and was not confined to Pakistan alone. “However, our level of preparedness is matching and we have made all out efforts to knock down it at all level before it becomes an unhandled challenge,” he added.

He said that the provincial cabinet in its recently held meeting took a number of steps and relaxed rules and regulations for making urgently required procurement to counter coronavirus in the province.

Out of the total Rs8 billion, the government has made available Rs5 billion for the purpose through multifaceted efforts to meet all challenges against coronavirus.

CM’s adviser says all-out efforts being made to knock down coronavirus

Mr Wazir said that all decisions of the cabinet would be implemented against coronavirus in the province. He advised people not to be scared of it but get educated and well aware of the pandemic.

He said that saving people was the first and foremost responsibility of the government. “Curative steps have been taken on war footings. However, prevention is the best cure to knockdown this pandemic,” he added.

“Our people are resilient and have the wherewithal to fight coronavirus as this nation suffered floods, earthquakes and terrorism and posed a brave face in all natural and man-mad calamities in the recent past,” said Mr Wazir.

He was optimistic that the nation would successfully fight out coronavirus. He said that about 8,000 people crossed the Pakistan-Afghanistan border per day and there was complete screening infrastructure and screening was taking place continuously.

He said that there was complete ban on gathering and congregation beyond 50 or more in the province. “The district administrations have been empowered to take all out steps wherever required in the given situation,” he added.

Mr Wazir said that provincial government had a special high powered task force, led by the chief minister, to effectively counter coronavirus in the province. He added that it was a challenge requiring continuous monitoring and focus.

He said that the challenge should be taken seriously. Even the sitting of provincial assembly was postponed, he added.

The adviser said that 1,200 isolation wards were established in the province and of 36 tests, 27 were negative while results of nine were being awaited.

Mr Wazir said that screening of all Chinese living in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was completed. “Even those working with Chinese have also been screened,” he added.

He said that local volunteers were put on red alert. “Because of all out efforts, there are dim chances that the coronavirus might make inroads in KP. We cannot close down the shopping plazas and bazaars in the province but will take steps on the basis of any abnormality in the coming days,” he added.

Mr Wazir advised ulema, social and political leaders and media to rise to the occasion and contribute to the collective cause of awareness campaign throughout the province.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2020