Minister for Planning Development Reforms and Special Initiatives Asad Umar Wednesday said no complacency will be permitted as administrative actions will be initiated across country against violators of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to contain the spread of Covid-19 in high-risk areas like markets, transport and industrial sectors across the country.
Chairing a meeting of the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), Asad Umar discussed the compliance of SOPs in detail with the provincial chief secretaries. He said there should be a clear message conveyed to the masses that the government is going to spearhead stringent actions to ensure social distancing and compliance of safety guidelines in public places and high-risk areas. “The National Coordination Committee (NCC) meeting minutes have been approved with the emphasis on ensuring voluntary compliance of SOPs and strict administrative action against violators. The NCC is fully supporting the provinces to ensure strict compliance of safety guidelines,” he added.
Asad said the trader associations are responsible for ensuring compliance of SOPs which are being violated in the markets and increasing the risk of pandemic outbreak. “An effective media campaign is also going to be launched across the country to create education and awareness among the masses for voluntary compliance of SOPs,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Punjab chief secretary said there is need to reinvigorate administration’s resolve, commitment and vigour for strict implementation of SOPs. Balochistan chief secretary said positive coronavirus cases have increased after the easing of lockdown. He added that strict compliance of SOPs is being ensured in the markets and various shops have been sealed over violations. Sindh chief secretary said voluntary compliance of SOPs is necessary to be encouraged through effective media campaign and mass mobilization. He added that different departments are ensuring compliance of SOPs in various sectors and law enforcement agencies are also assisting in the process.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary said the trader associations at division level have been taken on board to ensure compliance of SOPs and good compliance has been observed in the industrial sector.
He added that transport sector has also been engaged to ensure compliance of SOPs. Representatives of Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir also ensured to launch strict actions against the violators of SOPs.
