KARAK: MNA Shahid Khan Khattak and District Development Advisory Committee (DDAC) chairperson Asia Saleh Khattak have asked the district administration and the health department to acquire all the necessary gadgets for the hospital staff from the oil and gas royalty and production bonus funds.

The directives were issued at a meeting held here on Wednesday. Deputy commissioner Shah Rukh Ali Khan, assistant commissioners of the three tehsils and district health officer Dr Sadiq Shan were in attendance.

Dr Shah and deputy medical superintendent of the district headquarters hospital Dr Khalid Zameer complained that protection kits, masks and even gloves were not provided to the health staffers.

MNA Shahid Khattak asked the deputy commissioner to take up the purchase of the necessary equipment with the finance department.

On the occasion, the deputy commissioner asked the district food controller to prepare food packets sufficient for a seven-member family to be distributed among the residents in case of a complete lockdown in the district. He said a food package should sustain a family for at least 10 days.

The deputy commissioner also asked the DSP headquarters to stop the wedding functions, movement of nomad families and other such activities. He also directed the three tehsil municipal officers to establish hand-washing facilities at the busy places.

Later, addressing a press conference, the lawmakers asked the people to remain indoors in order to prevent spread of Covid-19 pandemic.

They said coronavirus was a fatal disease and people should adopt all precautionary measures against it. They said people should not visit the hospitals for common diseases as it would create rush at OPDs, and instead should visit the nearby basic and rural health centres for treatment of minor diseases.

INCREASE IN PENSIONS SOUGHT: The pensioners of the Employees Old Age Benefit Institution have complained about not being given the 10 per cent increase announced by the federal government in the budget 2018-19.

Talking to mediapersons on Wednesday, president of pensioners’ association, Karak chapter, Sadat Shah said their existing pension of Rs5,200 was not enough in the prevailing inflation. He demanded that the pensions should be increased up to Rs18,000 a month.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2020