PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has promulgated an ordinance to ensure the smooth supply of daily commodities and check hoarding across the province.

Spokesman for the government Ajmal Wazir told reporters here that a list of 30 items of consumer goods had been made and their hoarders would be arrested without warrants and sent behind bars for three years.

He said the ordinance empowered the deputy commissioners to raid suspected storage warehouses without prior permission, while the identity of those providing information about hoarders would be kept confidential.

Mr Wazir said seven Covid-19 patients had lost life during the last 24 hours.

He said the deaths caused by novel coronavirus in the province totalled 74, while 1,276 residents had tested negative for the virus and 39 of those cases were reported in the last 24 hours.

Govt says hoarders of 30 items to be held sans warrants

“I appeal to everyone to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary movement as the Covid-19 incidence in the province is on the rise,” he said.

The spokesman said a patient could transfer the virus to his or her family, which could affect an entire area.

He said the government was utilising all available resources to protect people from coronavirus.

Mr Wazir said around 520 Pakistanis had returned from Afghanistan and they all were quarantined in Landi Kotal and Shah Kas areas for Covid-19 testing.

He said the quarantines centres were equipped and the people kept there were provided with all required facilities.

The spokesman said the returnees testing negative for the virus would be sent home, while the confirmed cases would be taken care of.

About the claim of Sindh Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah about the arrival of three confirmed Covid-19 cases from KP in his province, Mr Wazir said it was not a time to score political points.

“The three persons could have contracted the virus on their way to Sindh,” he said.

The spokesman said the government had taken the province’s Covid-19 testing capacity from 20 to 1,000 daily.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2020