HYDERABAD: Divisional Com­­­­m­­­i­ssioner Hyderabad, Moha­mmad Abbas Baloch has said that situation relating to coronavirus in Hyderabad is not alarming, but still more measures are required and every department needs to realise its responsibility to tackle present situation.

He was chairing a meeting of different departments in his office on Tuesday.

He asked them to hold regular meetings in this regard and monitor the situation.

He called for obtaining data about pilgrims from Hyderabad currently visiting Iran and their statistics should be made available to the divisional administration.

He said that officers concerned should get these details through different Imambargahs and anjumans’ representatives.

He said that all those pilgrims returning from Iran should be kept in quarantine facility. He directed the deputy commissioner of Hyderabad to keep control room in her office operational for 24 hours and ensure availability of masks and other items of daily use.

Traders asked to submit details of their stocks regarding edibles and other healthcare-related items

He directed the Water and Sanitation Agency officials to ensure proper sanitation arrangements in the city and director general of the Hyderabad Development Authority was directed to ensure spray in hospitals.

He said that hospital administrations should ensure that entry of unconcerned people in health facilities was banned.

He said that awareness campaign should also be given preference so that people could take precautionary measures.

Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner Aisha Abro informed the meeting participants that people coming to Hyderabad from other cities were being supervised and availability of masks had been ensured.

Availability of edibles on govt price ordered

DC Aisha Abro has directed traders, wholesalers and shopkeepers to ensure availability of edibles and other necessary healthcare-related items in the city on government price.

She was chairing a meeting in her office which was attended by traders and wholesalers.

She warned the traders, shopkeepers and wholesalers that action would be taken against those selling surgical masks, sanitisers and other items at exorbitant rates or hoarding them. She said that all these materials should be sold at officially fixed prices.

She said that she had received complaints about shortage of edibles and artificial rise in prices.

She said that this was absolutely in violation of law and district administration could seal shops involved in such activities and they would be penalised and sent to prison.

She sought cooperation of traders so that common man should not face any difficulty in this difficult period.

Ms Abro asked traders to submit details of their stocks regarding edibles and other healthcare-related items in her office.

Meanwhile, president of the Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry, Doulat Ram Lohana in a statement on Tuesday urged the business community to ensure supply of food items and medicines and added that efforts should be made to ensure that there should be no problem or drop in supply of these goods.

He said that if business community faces any difficulty in this regard, businessmen concerned could approach the chamber secretariat or control room of the deputy commissioner Hyderabad.

He also advised managements of superstores, malls and marts to avoid rush of buyers in line with government directives as a precautionary step.

He offered his full cooperation to district administration in view of present health emergency.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2020