The Punjab government has decided to open restaurants and tourist spots including Murree but made it conditional with the permission of National Command and Operations Center (NCOC).
It was decided at a meeting of the cabinet committee on coronavirus chaired by the Senior Minister Punjab Abdul Aleem Khan here on Thursday. The meeting was convened on the directions of Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar which also decided that Punjab Public Service Commission may conduct interviews by implementing all the SOPs introduced by the government against Coronavirus.
Aleem Khan while directing easing down the lockdown in various sectors as per the prevailing situation said that the government will consider gradually easing down the lockdown provided that the public adopts a responsible behaviour.
During the briefing at the meeting it was disclosed that the primary & secondary health and specialized health care departments were given a budget of Rs. 11.5 billion to fight against Corona. The specialized health care department issued Rs 960 million to different hospitals. As many as 24 hospitals were given from Rs 100 million to Rs 5 million as per their need. Both the departments spent Rs 5 billion to date.
The Expo Centre Field Hospital was set up at a cost of Rs 25 million, the meeting was informed. It was also informed that 6699 patients of Coronavirus had been discharged from the hospital after complete recovery in Punjab. The meeting was informed that 1073 patients of Corona are under treatment in hospitals of specialized health care and 897 patients are under treatment in primary & secondary health department's hospitals, while 275 Corona patients are under treatment in private hospitals of the province. Out of all these only 65 patients are in critical condition and on ventilators while 1266 patients are in home isolation.
Punjab Minister for Health Dr Yasmin Rashid speaking on this occasion claimed that the opposition was only making hue and cry while the government is doing the real work.
The meeting also offered Fateha for Urban Unit's CEO Khalid Sherdil who expired in Karachi PIA plane accident. The meeting was attended by Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat, Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Minister for Industries Mian Aslam Iqbal, Chief Secretary Punjab, IG Police and other senior officers.