Better anti-COVID facilities sought for remote areas

Islamabad:Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani on Monday directed the government to improve COVID-19 testing facilities in remote areas.

He was speaking to Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Dr. Faisal Sultan, who called on him at the Parliament House on Monday.The two discussed the healthcare situation in Balochistan, especially in the wake of the outbreak of coronavirus.

Dr. Faisal Sultan briefed the Senate Chairman on the deteriorating COVID situation in the region.The Senate chairman said all agencies should work together to ensure implementation of SOPs, while testing facilities in remote areas should be further improved.

He said Balochistan is a large province in terms of area for which a concrete and effective policy was required to improve testing facilities.“Adherence to SOPs in remote areas could help curtail spread of coronavirus,” he said.

The Senate chairman lauded the institutional cooperation between the federation and provinces for controlling the pandemic.Meanwhile, Bulgarian Ambassador Irena Gancheva called on Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani at Parliament House here on Monday and discussed with matters of bilateral interest, especially better cooperation in economic and trade sector between the two countries.

Regional and international issues also came under discussion in the meeting. The Senate chairman said Pakistan and Bulgaria had traditionally enjoyed friendly and cooperative relations. Our Country adores and values its friendly relations with the Republic of Bulgaria".

He said both countries share the commonality of views on regional and international issues and that they were partners in the counter-terrorism efforts.

The Senate chairman appreciated Bulgaria's supportive role for Pakistan's greater access to European Union (EU) market and said the two countries should cement ties at the parliamentary level. "Exchange of high-level delegations between the two countries will bolster relations," he said.

Sanjrani called for better cooperation in agriculture, Information Technology and economics. "Parliamentary diplomacy is a substantial means of bringing nations closer together. Peace and stability are crucial for the development and prosperity of the region. Pakistan will continue to support and remain the partner of peace efforts in the region", he underlined. The Bulgarian ambassador stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation with Pakistan. "Pakistan is an important country for Bulgaria, which wants to strengthen relations with it," she said.