GUJRAT: Local authorities have decided to conduct Covid-19 tests on at least 5,000 people related to religious activities of Muharram.

Up to 1,000 to 1,500 zakareen (who deliver speeches narrating the incidents related to the martyrdom of Imam Hussain during Muharram congregations), around 1,500 organizers of various congregations as well as some 2,000 security volunteers of congregations and processions will undergo Covid-19 screening by the local health authorities.

There are 125 Imambargahs in Gujrat district whereas 1,372 congregations and 220 processions are organised in every Muharram.

A senior official of the health department said that though the Punjab government had already directed the district administration and health authorities across the province to conduct Covid-19 tests of zakareen but the local authorities in Gujrat had decided to conduct tests of organisers as well as security volunteers to minimize risks to the health of participants of congregation.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Khurram Shahzad told Dawn that testing would be launched from August 12 which would continue till August 16 so that the test reports of all those people related to religious activities of Muharram could be completed.

He said the health department made different teams who would conduct tests in Imambargahs whereas the facility had also been provided at Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital and tehsil headquarters hospitals in Kharian and Sara-i-Alamgir.

Deputy district officers of health have been tasked with monitoring the whole exercise ahead of Muharram in their respective areas.

The DC also said the zakareen coming from other districts to Gujrat would also have to produce their Covid-19 test reports otherwise they would not be allowed to address congregations.

Asked if there is any planning to ensure social distancing during the Muharram congregation, he said that the Tiger Force would be engaged to mark points in Imambargahs as they did for Taraweeh in Ramazan whereas queue marks would be made along the routes of Muharram processions so at least participants could stay in the marked limits.

Leaders and organizers of congregations and volunteers have also been informed about the launching of such an exercise at a briefing held at police lines here on Tuesday.

The Gujrat district administration earlier conducted a huge exercise of testing at least 3,717 butchers ahead of Eidul Azha across the district and only 17 were found infected with the virus.

UoG: The University of Gujrat (UoG) launched a tree plantation campaign at its Hafiz Hayat Campus on Tuesday and plans to plant 1,000 saplings before Aug 14.

The campaign is part of Green Pakistan, the countrywide tree plantation drive launched to achieve a greener, cleaner Pakistan.

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shabbar Atiq kicked off the campaign by planting a sapling on campus. Directorate of Administration and Coordination, the organisers of the campaign, said they targeted 1,000 plantations by Aug 14.

“Plantation and protection of trees is a shared responsibility. It is one the best contributions to our motherland, something akin to a self-perpetuating good deed,” Dr Atiq said after inaugurating the campaign.

He spoke about the vital role students could play in the Green Pakistan initiative, saying they needed to spread awareness among the masses about the benefits of planting trees.

UoG deans, directors, heads of departments, senior administration officials and other staff members were present on the occasion.

Pakistanis among the top 10 countries most vulnerable to global warming and climate change effects.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2020