PESHAWAR: Scoffing at Sindh government over its handling of Covid-19, Adviser to Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir on Sunday said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa followed WHO guidelines and was transparent in reporting infection and mortality cases.

Briefing reporters here on Thursday, he asked Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to focus on Sindh and not to worry about Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which had a better recovery rate as compared to the former.

Mr Wazir said that Covid-19 cases were being reported in KP in line with WHO guidelines and bodies of the people passed away due to illness in the province were now being handed over to their families and in case of positive result after the death such bodies were counted in the pandemic tally.

He said that representatives of Sindh government said one thing in meetings and another at other forums.

CM’s adviser asks PPP chairman to focus on Sindh

“In meetings of National Coordination Committee chaired by prime minister, the Sindh chief minister gets maximum time for discussion and it is puzzling as to why they start unwarranted criticism when they come out of the meetings,” he said.

The adviser said that KP increased its Covid-19 testing capacity from 20 to 2,800 tests per day.

He said that seventh consignment of safety equipment to 49 hospitals of the province was dispatched to equip the doctors and paramedics fighting against pandemic.

He said that the safety equipment included 52,315 N-95 masks, 26,522 KN-95 masks, 485 D-95, 430,000 face masks, 7,925 protective suits, 18,244 surgical gowns, 21,185 caps, 21,000 shoe covers, 10,330 pair of surgical gloves, 3,475 face shield and 1,135 protective goggles.

He said that administration was taking action against those, who were creating artificial shortage of flour in the province in coordination with food department.

Mr Wazir said that similar operations were being carried out across the province against artificial shortage of petrol and non-compliance with SOPs.

He said that the government was providing the best relief package to the people under the Ehsaas Emergency cash programme in the lockdown adding that this was a transparent project in the history of the country which was appreciated internationally.

He said that the agriculture and relief departments and district administrations were taking steps to eradicate locusts in the province.

He said that coronavirus and locust arrangements were being monitored by the chief minister. Regarding the repatriation of overseas Pakistanis, he said that opposition should not worry about them as they were close to the heart of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

“Arrival of overseas Pakistanis at Bacha Khan International Airport is in progress and since February 1 till March 20, about 81,524 passengers have arrived through 478 regular flights.

They have been screened and besides this, 4,675 passengers have also arrived at Peshawar airport through 23 special flights from April 15 till May 28,” said Mr Wazir.

He said that crackdown was also launched against the violators of SOPs.

He said that a total of 33,001 inspections were carried out across the province.

He said that 3,553 businesses were fined and 811 outlets were sealed while Rs1,704,262 was deposited in the provincial treasury so far in terms of fines.

He said that filling stations were also sealed for not providing petrol to people.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2020