Adequate stock of vaccine available in Punjab: Yasmin

LAHORE: Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid said here Thursday that cleanliness is key to preventing epidemics and focused efforts are being made to keep the city clean and green.

The minister said there is no shortage of vaccine in Punjab. Pakistan has procured over 70% vaccine from its own resources and Punjab is also receiving Moderna, Astra Zenica and Pfizer vaccines.

Sinopharm and Sinovac are approved vaccines by global bodies and foreign office is talking to USA and Saudi Arabia on this issue. Speaking at the handing over ceremony of 6,000 containers of the Lahore Waste Management Company at Outfall Road, the minister said that cleanliness in Lahore was being specifically monitored on the chief minister’s directions.

Lahore Waste Management Company CEO Rafia Haider, GM Operations Nadeem, Abdul Ghafoor Pappu, Mian Nadeem, Mian Ali and the LWMC officials were present on the occasion. Rafia Haider gave briefing to the minister on the LWMC performance.

The minister said, “We are continuously monitoring the cleanliness of Lahore on the CM’s directions. The government has made available all resources required for the purpose. Over 3,000 people have been hired in the LWMC. Cleanliness is half the faith. A healthy society can be developed only by ensuring cleanliness.”

She praised services rendered by LWMC CEO in the health sector especially during the pandemic. “Wasa, PHA and LDA are working jointly to ensure cleanliness of Lahore. We have received complaints of garbage piles at a few places. Lahore is heart of Pakistan and a special committee has been constituted to monitor work on cleanliness. The new 6,000 containers have been bought for the City and they will be placed at key spots. Around 950 containers have been reserved for Data Ganj Bux Town,” she said.

The minister appealed to the people to throw their waste only in designated containers and not on roads. The LWMC’s three workshops have been made functional and all dilapidated trucks have been renovated. For Lahore, 2,000 carts have been procured, said Dr Yasmin. “Steps are being taken to resolve the sewerage issues in Lahore. A bypass clean water system is in the process of being developed. Due to excessive load, another dumping site in Lahore is being developed”, she added.

Speaking on the vaccination process, she said adequate stock of vaccine was available in Punjab and Punjab was getting 1.3 million vaccine doses. She said no major adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) incidents reported in Punjab and other consignments of Astra Zenica were arriving in Punjab shortly. People having travel documents, including Aqama can get vaccinated. Pakistan has procured over 70% vaccine from its own resources and Punjab is also receiving Moderna, Astra Zenica and Pfizer vaccines. Sinopharm and Sinovac are approved vaccines by global bodies and foreign office is talking to USA and Saudi Arabia on this issue.

The LWMC has been directed to update their expense on their website. The protest at Expo Centre was about Pfizer and Astra Zenica. The P&SHD is supervising the vaccine supply to all centres. People can stand in queues for hours in the USA but many Pakistanis don’t show patience for even 10 minutes. She said good work of the government must be appreciated. Expo Centre is working with collaborative efforts of the government, she added.