TAXILA: Attock Deputy Commissioner Ali Annan Qammar on Saturday said the local administration in collaboration with food department and philanthropists had established 16 sale points in the city where roti would be available at Rs5.

Addressing a press conference at his office, the deputy commissioner said the step had been taken to provide relief to the people hit by the lockdown, adding that the sale points would be established in all tehsils of the district.

Mr Qammar said so far 21 confirmed cases of Covid-19 had been reported in the district.

He said two patients had died and one patient recovered while the condition of other patients was stable.

Step taken to provide relief to people hit by lockdown, DC says

He said among positive cases, nine are pilgrims who recently returned from Iran, six are members of Tableeghi Jamaat and the rest are cases of local transmission.

He said 14 quarantine centres were set up across the district where 91 people were under observation.

Responding to a question, he said emergency departments of all hospitals were working round the clock and giving medical facilities to patients of other ailments.

The deputy commissioner said 111 medical officers, 117 women medical officers and 50 specialist doctors were available to meet any health emergency.

He said 13 isolation wards were established in various medical centres of the district.

He said the lockdown had been relaxed keeping in view the hardships being faced by the people.

He, however, emphasised upon the people to cooperate with the administration and stressed the need to maintain social distancing and washing hands.

Rs1.45bn released

Punjab Zakat and Ushr Secretary Alamgir Ahmed Khan on Saturday said his department had released Rs1.45 billion for people affected by the lockdown.

He was presiding over a meeting to review Covid-19 situation and distribution of cash in Attock district at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office.

He directed the officials concerned to ensure strict implementation of safety measures at cash disbursement centres to avoid the spread of the disease.

He said financial aid under Prime Minister Ehsaas Kafalat Programme would be ensured on merit.

Deputy Commissioner Ali Annan Qammar briefed the secretary that under the programme 21 centres across the district had disbursed Rs150 million among 12,000 needy families until Saturday.

He said the district administration in collaboration with philanthropists had distributed ration among more than 10,000 families.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2020