Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Dr Zafar Mirza, said on Sunday that the government was ready to deal with any eventuality of COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. Presiding over a meeting here on Sunday, he said that well-trained staff was present at the Taftan and other border crossings to screen all passengers crossing over into Pakistan.
He said the screening of passengers at all entry points of Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta airports was being done in line with the International Health Regulations. During the meeting, the special assistant was given a detailed briefing on the reported cases of COVID-19 in Iran.
Dr Mirza said, "All passengers are being screened before their entry into the country." He said that thus far no case of the deadly virus had come to light in Pakistan. He said the government stood ready to deal with any eventuality.
Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal had a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Special Assistant on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza to discuss measures to deal with the virus threat. Meanwhile, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has launched countrywide crackdown against black marketing of respiratory masks and other items used for protection from novel coronavirus (NCV), a spokesperson of the Ministry of Health said.
He said the DRAP had conducted raids at five pharmacies in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar, over sale of the concerned items on inflated rates. A large number of respiratory masks, and disposable gloves were recovered from these pharmacies. Legal action will be taken against those involved in violation of the law, the spokesperson said.
Dr Mirza said the medical stores and the wholesale dealers had been already warned against blackmarketing of the concerned items. The government won't allow anyone to sell these items on inflated rates above fixed prices, he said.
The prices of the masks and gloves, face shields and other items will be kept at the prices of December 2019, Dr Mirza said. The government is closely monitoring the situation related to the COVID-19 and will not allow any person or entity to indulge in black marketing, he said. Dr Mirza said that the government is taking all possible measures for protection from the COVID-19 and will use all resources at hand to protect the people from it.
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