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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has summoned the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) chairman to explain why the authority had paid in cash for the COVID-19-related equipment.
According to a detailed verdict issued today (Thursday) in the suo motu coronavirus case, the top court has summoned NDMA chief over ‘irregularities’, asking him why the chartered a plane to have equipment flown into the country.
The court noted that the NDMA report on the facilities being provided at quarantine centres was unsatisfactory. The report also mentioned that the Pakistani embassy in Beijing had played a role in importing COVID-19 related equipment.
The court noted that it did not see a valid reason for the embassy to play a role in purchasing the machinery. “All payments were made in cash but the report neither disclosed who gave the money, nor who took it,” the verdict added.
The top court also issued directions to the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) chairman to remove unnecessary staff. During the hearing, the court also noted that it was told that there was currently no shortage of medicines for COVID-19 patients in the country.
The court, in its verdict, observed that Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan CEO had told the court that the country had a two-week stock of Actemra injections and Japan was being contacted to import more of them. The hearing of the case was adjourned for a month.