Sindh slums are safe, says CM

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that they have not received any coronavirus case from slums of the province.

Talking to a delegation of industrialists on Saturday, he said all coronavirus cases were reported from the areas where the dwellers returned from abroad.

“It will be very difficult to control the virus if it spreads in the slums,” he said adding that bold steps were taken to cope the challenge.

Damage control is the priority, the CM said and lauded the religious leaders for extending complete cooperation with the government in implementing protective measures.

“No Tablighi Jamaat member contracted coronavirus had come from abroad,” he added.

He also cited the feeling of a person who attended the funeral of his brother, saying the pandemic is perilous.

Murad also shared economic issues emerged because of the virus with the delegates, saying that the government ran short of funds.

Meeting on measures 

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Saturday gave go-ahead for the purchase of six rapid testing machines and 300,000 testing kits to enhance the province’s capacity of conducting coronavirus tests.

The approval came at a meeting presided over by the chief minister to review anti-COVID-19 measures. Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho and other top health officials were present during the meeting.

The chief minister was informed that the provincial government has about 7,500 testing kits at present, which are sufficient to last through the coming seven days. He was further informed that testing capacity for a day has been enhanced to 2020. He said at least 5,000 tests be conducted in a day.

Health officials told the chief minister that the daily testing capacity could go up further after the purchase of new PCR machines. A total of 200,000 testing kits will be purchased from a British company, another 100,000 kits and PCR machines from a Canadian firm.