Buzdar allocates Rs11bn against coronavirus, LG polls postponed

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Tuesday said that funds worth Rs11 billion have been earmarked for the provincial health department to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Addressing a press briefing after a cabinet meeting, Buzdar said funds to deal with the pandemic has been released, and health officials have been instructed to purchase the equipment and medication especially personal protection equipment (PPEs) at the earliest.

The department has also been directed to immediately make eight laboratories fully functional for which a sum of Rs620 million has already provided. He said Rs2bn would be given to the provincial disaster management authority (PDMA) and Rs60 million to the district governments to take effective measures to curtail the spread of the virus.

CM Buzdar said that the provincial cabinet and government has decided to donate one-month salary to the fund set up to tackle coronavirus situation. He said that 10,000 doctors and medical staff including retired doctors will be hired to tackle the coronavirus situation.

Buzdar added the local bodies election in Punjab have been postponed for nine months in wake of the virus outbreak and an ordinance in this regard is being introduced. An ordinance will be issued in this regard suspending the local government elections.

He said that the Punjab government has also decided to extend the school vacations till end of May in wake of the coronavirus situation. A proposed reduction in fees of private schools also came under discussion. Buzdar said a committee has been formed comprising the law minister and education minister which will present a report within a week.

The provincial cabinet also approved for Zakat deductions to be carried out a month earlier to facilitate the poor during these difficult times. He said the recommendation will be sent to the federal government for final consent, while Bait-ul-Maal funds will also be released to provide relief to the poor.

The chief minister said that the cabinet has accorded approval to the Infectious Disease Prevention Control Act, 2020. A special tribute was paid to Dr Osama Riaz from Gilgit-Baltistan who lost his life in the fight against the coronavirus. The cabinet also approved the release of Rs1bn to the Balochistan government so they may not face financial constraints in combatting the virus.