LAHORE: The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department on Sunday issued special standard operating procedures (SOPs) due to a surge in the Covid’s Delta variant cases in the province prior to Eidul Azha.

Secretary Sarah Aslam said the campaign for vaccination and implementation of coronavirus SOPs duration had been extended till July 25.

She said the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC) had issued special SOPs for various sectors and the orders were issued to all deputy commissioners to implement them.

According to the special SOPs, only vaccinated individuals are allowed to travel through inter-province boundary/tourist destinations’ entry points, no hotel reservation for non-vaccinated tourists, enhanced rapid antigen tests (RATs) of tourists at sentinel sites of tourists’ destinations and adherence to dine-in policy of 50pc occupancy.

The transport sector (bus stands/railway stations) occupancy must not exceed 70pc limit of the capacity of any transport, shopping malls and market places should adhere to prescribed timings, over crowdedness in shopping malls and market must be averted.

Only essential services ie petrol pumps, pharmacies, vaccination centres, milk/dahi shops, tandoors and takeaways can remain open 24/7.

The document of SOPs also states that wedding halls, irrespective of capacity, are adhering to specified indoor limit of 200 vaccinated guests and outdoor limit of 400 citizens.

POLICE: Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ghulam Mahmood Dogar says stringent measures should be taken for ensuring security of mosques, imambargahs, shrines

and other vulnerable establishments during Eidul Azha and Muharramul Haram.

Mr Dogar was presiding over a meeting of all the units of Lahore Police at the Police Lines Qila Gujjar Singh.

All the high-profile officials of the police, including the deputy inspectors generals (DIGs), attended the meeting.

The CCPO said the supervisory role of sub-divisional police officers (SDPOs) needed to be redefined to improve the performance of police at the police station and sub-division levels.

He said the SDPOs, being the focal persons in the campaign against proclaimed offenders, should play a leading role to arrest the criminals involved in heinous crimes. He said profiling and data collection of record holders, drug pushers, land grabbers and habitual criminals should be established.

Mr Dogar directed the SHOs to stop using delaying tactics in registration of the FIRs in cases against property and respond to the citizens’ calls on helpline 15 regarding kite flying; aerial firing and other crimal activities.

DIG Operations Sajid Kiani said no illegal cattle sale points other than the 12 approved ones would be allowed to do business in the city.

He issues directions for an increased visibility and patrolling of all units of Lahore Police on roads, sensitive installations, religious and public places in wake of present border situation.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2021