MUHAMMAD SALEEM

LAHORE: The Chief Minister of Punjab, Sardar Usman Buzdar, has given permission to the transporters to resume plying inter-city and inter-district transport services for providing relief to the common man. The Punjab government has also announced 20 percent cut in transport fares.

A high-level, video-link meeting of the Cabinet Committee set up to deal with the coronavirus was held under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar at the CM’s Office on Saturday, which took a number of important decisions.

Usman Buzdar said that the Punjab government had also decided to open mega-shopping malls under SOPs.

Power-looms have also been given permission to work. However, industries would have to take measures to ensure implementation of the SOPs in this regard.

The Punjab government has also decided to allow communion services in the churches on Sundays under the SOPs, the CM said.

He added that the Punjab government has also decided to allow online taxi and transport services to operate. However, public transport and online taxi services will have to ensure implementation of the SOPs.

He said that wearing of masks had been made mandatory for the passengers, drivers and conductors, and proper and necessary distance will be maintained between the passengers.

He said that the government by realizing the difficulties of the common man has decided to open intercity and inter-district transport service and recommendations of Steering Committee has been approved in this regard.

He said that SOPs evolved for maintaining social distance at bus stands will be observed. Buses will be disinfected after reaching their destination.

He said that the corona threat was not over yet, and we need to be more careful. He said that government has to safeguard its citizen from corona and from hunger as well. He appealed to the people to show responsibility.

He said that the number of corona affected patients in Punjab was 14,201, and the Punjab government had conducted 158,000 tests so far.

About 5,953 tests were conducted during the last 24 hours.

Home quarantine had been allowed in Punjab.

Usman Buzdar directed to evolve separate strategy for Jumma-tul-Wada, Youm-e-Quds and Eid, and final plan should be presented next week in this regard.

The meeting also reviewed the latest situation due to corona pandemic, measures taken by the government for the elimination of corona, facilities being provided to the corona patients in the hospitals, and the implementation of the SOPs in bazaars and markets after easing off of the lockdown.