PESHAWAR: Flights resumed at the Bacha Khan International Airport here on Friday.

Adviser to the chief minister on information Ajmal Khan Wazir told reporters that Prime Minister Imran Khan had ordered the flight resumption at the request of Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.

He said the government was providing all kinds of support to overseas Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.

The adviser said Eidul Fitr was around the corner, so social distancing guidelines and precautionary measures against coronavirus should be enforced in bazaars to stem the spread of the infection.

He said the chief minister had directed all ministers, advisers, special assistants and members of the provincial assembly to mark Eid in their areas with simplicity keeping in view social distancing.

Premier ordered flight operations at CM’s request

“On the occasion of Eid, we should take care of the poor and needy people and share happiness with them,” he said.

Mr Wazir said the people should take precautionary measures against Covid-19 on the occasion of Eid, wear face masks, avoid unnecessary visit to markets and follow SOPs set by the government.

He said the Ehsaas social safety programme was the first transparent public welfare initiative in the country’s history and benefitted labourers and members of the working class.

“Phase-II of the Ehsaas programme will also be funded by the KP government,” he said.

The adviser said the government was taking care of people from both poor and middle classes and was addressing economic problems at the same time.

He said if the people cooperated with authorities and followed SOPs, lockdown would be relaxed further but if that didn’t happen, the government would go for a complete lockdown.

Mr Wazir said the sacrifices and services of doctors and medical staff in the fight against coronavirus would be remembered for years.

He said health systems of the developed countries were on the brink of collapse but Pakistan’s health system was striving to meet the challenge mainly due to the staff’s sacrifices, people’s cooperation and the government’s health initiatives.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2020