SIALKOT: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Wednesday inaugurated a 203-bed field hospital here for coronavirus patients.

The CM visited the hospital and reviewed in detail medical facilities being provided there.

Buzdar stressed the need for self-isolation and social distancing among the people to contain the deadly virus.

He said patients at the hospital could also avail themselves of the facility of telecommunication with their families through Skype.

The CM also launched Tiger Force in Sialkot. He urged the force members to utilise their full energies and capabilities for serving the poor and the deserving by going door to door in this trying time.

Mr Buzdar also visited the Ehsaas Kafalat Programme Centre and inspected the process of issuing emergency financial assistance among the deserving.

He said he himself was monitoring the programme in Punjab besides taking quick action on complaints.

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He also visited the Child Protection Bureau, Sialkot, and reviewed the facilities being provided to the children admitted there.

Assistant to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar, provincial ministers Mohsin Leghari, Husnain Bujadar Dareshak, PTI leaders Umer Dar, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and others were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, presiding over a meeting of the heads of the nation-building departments held at Sialkot DC Office here, Mr Buzdar said the Punjab government had released special funds to the tune of Rs15 billion to the health department besides providing Rs2.5bn to PDMA for combating the coronavirus.

The CM said the condition of roads was precarious in Sialkot as no one paid any attention to road infrastructure during the last one decade. He said the government would ensure repairing and reconstruction of these roads.

Meanwhile, a delegation of exporters and industrialists met with the chief minister and said they were implementing the SOPs issued by the Punjab government regarding reopening of their factories after the prevailing lockdown.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2020