MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) cabinet on Monday approved a ban on the entry of tourists in the territory for three weeks, along with some other decisions, to ensure safety of local people from the looming novel coronavirus threat.

The cabinet meeting was held in Kashmir House and presided over by Senior Minister Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, as Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider had been advised by doctors to take rest in the wake of his eye operation.

The cabinet directed the health department to immediately coordinate with the finance department for release of funds for personal protection equipment for medics.

The department was also asked to coordinate with National Institute of Health (NIH) and other concerned institutions for early establishment of testing labs in AJK.

Cabinet members were given a detailed briefing by Chief Secretary Mathar Niaz Rana, Health Secretary Maj Gen Tahir Sardar and Director General (Health) Dr Aftab Hussain Khan about the prevailing situation and precautionary measures.

The cabinet was of the view that district administrations should remain on their toes all the time and awareness campaigns should be accelerated.

“Allah be praised, AJK is still safe from this virus as none of the limited suspected cases from this territory have tested positive. However, since the threat is not over, we will have to involve every segment of society to fight this menace,” Mr Rana said.

He said a state-level coordination committee, headed by the prime minister, had already been constituted which was monitoring the situation with regular updates from all districts on a daily basis.

Daily reports can also be shared with the cabinet members, he added.

He said screening teams were deputed at AJK’s entry points and isolation wards had been set up in all major health facilities at district headquarters, in addition to quarantine centres.

District administration and police are carrying out their jobs satisfactorily in collaboration with other departments, he added.

Mr Rana informed the cabinet that there were 249 Chinese nationals working on different projects in AJK and they had been cleared in tests.

He said 97 pilgrims returning from Iran had also been cleared.

“We are in contact with the Balochistan government and we are receiving pilgrims [who belong to AJK] at Dera Ghazi Khan and bringing them here in our own ambulances,” he said.

Initially Rs5 million had been released by the government to deal with this situation but more funds would also be provided if and whenever they are required, he said.

Mr Sardar informed the cabinet that NIH had pledged to establish a testing lab in Muzaffarabad within three weeks.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2020