LAHORE: Punjab Chief Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik has directed the administrative officers to identify more localities affected by the coronavirus in their respective districts and send a report to identify more hotspots and extend the scope of smart lockdown.

He issued these directions while presiding over a meeting held at the camp office to review the ongoing smart lockdowns in different cities of the province. Additional Chief Secretary Home Momin Agha, Commissioner Lahore Division Saif Anjum, and officers concerned attended the meeting while divisional commissioners, RPOs, deputy commissioners, and DPOs participated through video link.

The meeting considered extending the scope of lockdown to other worst-hit localities of different cities to protect precious human lives. A report submitted to the chief secretary said smart lockdowns are causing a decrease in the number of cases of coronavirus and related deaths.

The meeting also reviewed the implementation of SOPs regarding the prevention of coronavirus in 'wholesale and other conventional markets' and decided to completely close all such markets that are not following the precautionary measures.

The chief secretary said all possible steps would be taken for the prevention of Covid-19, adding that no further exemption could be granted other than that given in the SOPs.

The meeting was briefed that 71 shops in Bahawalpur, 824 in Multan, 650 in DG Khan, 450 in Sahiwal, 92 in Faisalabad, 1600 in Sargodha, 99 in Gujranwala and 1847 hops in Sheikhupura were sealed over violations of the SOPs.

Tiger Force is being used in the Ehsaas program, drives against locust, dengue, and to enhance awareness about the importance of the use of masks and social distance. The chief secretary also issued instructions to all the administrative officers to provide details of functional and non-functional flour mills in the province today.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020