KP to give 15-day leave to govt employees above 50, considers closing offices

Dawn.com Published March 17, 2020

Adviser to KP Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir addresses the media in Peshawar on Tuesday. — DawnNewsTV

Adviser to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir on Tuesday urged citizens to not panic after the province reported 15 cases of coronavirus in a single go a day earlier. He was speaking at a news conference in Peshawar.

"There is no need to be worried but precautions are very necessary. Avoid going out, stay away from people who have a high temperature and wash your hands." He added that Khyber Pakhtunkwa does not have its own case yet, all the people who tested positive are people who returned from the border.

Refuting rumours that a person who died in the Hayatabad Medical Complex on Monday had coronavirus, he said that the person died of pneumonia. He added that the number of infected people in KP had not increased.

Read: KP reports first coronavirus cases

Wazir added that the KP government's focus was to protect the people from coronavirus as much as possible and it had taken certain decisions in this regard.

"We are considering closing government offices. All employees aged 50 and above will be given a 15-day leave, prisoners' sentences will be reduced by two months. Police training in all training centres across the province have been postponed and police officers have been asked to come back to duty [...] schools have also been shut."

Talking about the 250 pilgrims who would return from the border on Tuesday, he said that quarantine facilities have been arranged for them at Gomal Medical College in Dera Ismail Khan. He added that Chief Minister Mahmood Khan directed that adequate groceries and other amenities be provided to those quarantined.

Wazir said the KP government had started interacting with the ulema, it would brief them and bring them on board. He added that he would soon address a joint press conference with these religious leaders and bring forward a plan.

Responding to a question on coronavirus preparations in Peshawar's Lady Reading Hospital, he said that the hospital "carries the burden for the entire province. If a patient of coronavirus or a carrier came to the hospital it would be catastrophic". He added that arrangements had been made at the Police Services Hospital in the same city.

The adviser said the KP government was "closely monitoring the situation" and would make further decisions in the best interests of the province's people.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Mar 17, 2020 01:04pm

How can you avoid being panicked when people are dying everyday in hundreds, left and right and around the world due to coronavirus pandemic?

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Manjeet kocchar

Mar 17, 2020 02:17pm

This may delay the spread but detection and treatment t of effected patients will prevent t thespread

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Syed Anjum Ali

Mar 17, 2020 04:51pm

That's ok for KPK government employees. What's government going to do to help us people- old and retired, sick or medically challenged, women and children without male support, poor people without jobs or regular income and many more ? The whole province is in extremely poor condition financially and materially over the last 10 years or so. Daily life and survival are difficult. There must be a monthly emergency service or system in place to provide door to door medical and basic food assistance to all. Surely the PTI government can try to be humane at last?

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Li-N-Ja

Mar 17, 2020 05:01pm

Lots of strict measures should be taken. Pass strictures across the nation to stop all public gatherings for any cause be it family event, religious, political or weekly bazars. Not more 5 people should gather at one place. All border areas should be shield and cross border movement of people should be barred. People coming from high risk countries should be quarantined for 15 days irrespective of them showing result positive or negative. Public transport should restricted including private vehicles transporting large people. Quarantine facilities should be arranged in all across the country and SOPs should be given to medical practitioners and para medical staffs. Laboratories should be opened in every city to facilitate faster test result. We now have crossed total number more than India which is much bigger in size and population and may see Italy like situation soon if not taken action fast.

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wasim

Mar 17, 2020 08:40pm

@Dr. Salaria ...Ok then panic if you think it helps, I mean come on give someone a break !

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Ibrahim S

Mar 17, 2020 09:14pm

@Li-N-Ja, I'll add two cents to your valuable comments. Get them engaged on some kind of volunteer activities for the sake of their own health, they are getting paid from tax payers money. Payers is not considered an activities, they must help the community in their capacity.

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Thuthuri

Mar 18, 2020 07:28am

Good.

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