QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Min­ister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani has said that his government had started taking precautionary measures against Covid-19 when other provinces did not even have information about the pandemic.

Speaking at a meeting held to review the progress and implementation of tasks assigned to the health department and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and procurement of medical equipment to fight coronavirus here on Wednesday, he said health emergency was declared in the province, pilgrims were provided with facilities at Taftan border, quarantine and isolation centers were established, and the government left no stone unturned in discharging its responsibilities in battling coronavirus.

The chief minister said from February 28 to March 26 as many as eight meetings were held regarding prevention of coronavirus with health and other departments concerned and they were given guidelines.

The meeting was briefed about steps tak­en regarding coronavirus, performance of the health department in the context of directions of the chief minister, provision of machinery to hospitals and other related issues.

The chief minister was informed that doctors and paramedical staff had been provided with protective kits, dresses, gloves and masks, while all other necessary equipment are being purchased for them.

He said his government was accountable to the masses, adding that if timely decisions were not taken positive results would not be possible.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2020