Sindh Coronavirus Emergency Fund Committee, headed by Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah, in its 10th meeting on Thursday sanctioned Rs30 million for establishing 300-bed Field Hospital at PAF Museum Karachi.

The committee also approved Rs720 million out of the Emergency Fund for purchasing the laboratory equipment, PPEs, machinery and other required medical equipment while Rs500 million out of the health department's budget for upgrading various public sector hospitals across the province.

Secretary Finance briefing the committee gave details of the fund collection. According to him Rs3.5 billion have so far been collected as Coronavirus Emergency Fund. The number of private donors is one thousand. He told that overseas Pakistanis have donated Rs14.6 million through the I-Care and the names of all the donors are displayed at website of Finance Department GoS.

Secretary Health informed that delivery of medical equipment including Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) ordered through CEF by Sindh government has started. The Committee decided to write to the FBR for exempting the Coronavirus Emergency Fund from sales tax, income tax and withholding tax.

Chief Secretary directed for carrying out transparent audit of all the equipment purchased through the reputed audit firms and ensure proper and transparent delivery onward to the hospitals through the Chief Minister's Inspection Team. He also sought detailed reports in this regard in the next meeting.