CM allows reopening public transport

LAHORE, May 16 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has given permission to ply inter-city and inter-district
transport for providing relief and creating ease for the common-man besides announcing 20 per cent decrease in transport fare.

Chairing a video-link meeting of the Cabinet Committee set up to deal with coronavirus was held at the CM’s Office on Saturday which took a number of decisions.

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan the government had not only reduced petroleum prices substantially but also taken measure to transfer its benefits to the common man. He added that 20 per cent decrease in transport fares would provide huge relief to the common man.

The CM maintained that the Punjab government had also decided to allow online taxi & transport service to operate, however, public transport and online taxi & transport service would have to ensure the implementation on SOPs evolved in this regard. He said that wearing masks had been made
mandatory for passengers, drivers and conductors. He said that proper and necessary distance would be maintained between passengers. He said that rich people were travelling on their vehicles whereas transport service was closed for the poor which multiplying their difficulties.

He said the government, by realizing difficulties of the common man had decided to open inter-city and inter-district transport service and recommendations of the Steering Committee had been approved in this regard. He said that SOPs evolved for maintaining social distance at bus stands would be
observed. Buses would be disinfected after reaching their destination from one place to another.

Meanwhile, Usman Buzdar said the Punjab government had also decided to open mega shopping malls under SOPs. Power-looms had also been given permission to work, however, Industries department would have to take measures to ensure the implementation on already devised SOPs in this regard.

The Punjab government has also decided to allow to start Communal Service in the Churches on Sunday under the SOPs.
He said :”The corona threat is not over yet and we need to be more careful”. He said the government had to safeguard its citizen from corona and from hunger as well.

He appealed the citizens to show responsibility.

He said that number of corona-affected patients in Punjab were 14,201 and the Punjab government had conducted 158,000 tests so far. Around 5,953 tests had been conducted during the last 24 hours, he said and adding that home quarantine has been allowed in Punjab.

Usman Buzdar directed to evolve separate strategy for Jumma-tul-Wada, Youm-e-Qadoos and Eid and final plan should be presented the next week in this regard.

The meeting also reviewed the latest situation occurred due to corona epidemic, measures taken by the government for the elimination of corona epidemic, facilities being provided to the corona patients in hospitals and the implementation on the SOPs in bazaars and markets after easing in lockdown.

Provincial Ministers Raja Basharat, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, the chief secretary, IGP, SMBR, ACS (Home), commissioner Lahore Division, Secretaries of Finance, Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education, Primary & Secondary Healthcare, Industry and Information departments and concerned authorities attended the meeting while Provincial Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht, military officials, secretary local government, CEO Urban Unit, DG PDMA, secretaries of P&D, Labour, Agriculture, Food departments and Chairman PITB participated in the meeting via video link.