Availability of essential drugs at reasonable prices be ensured : CS Punjab Jawad Rafique Malik

Lahore : Chief Secretary Punjab Jawad Rafique Malik presided over a meeting in connection with launching a crackdown on those involved in black-marketing and hoarding of essential medicines.

Commissioner Lahore Division Saif Anjum, CCPO Lahore Zulfiqar Hameed and officers concerned attended the meeting while IG Punjab Shoaib Dastgir, divisional commissioners and regional police officers (RPOs) participated through video link.

The meeting decided to take ‘stringent measures’ to ensure supply and availability of essential drugs at reasonable prices.

It was decided that in view of the increasing cases of Covid-19, the federal government would be approached to procure 10,000 to 15,000 oxygen cylinders and the oxygen manufacturing companies would be exempted from power outages.

The Chief Secretary directed the IG Punjab that the vehicles transporting oxygen would be allowed to run for 24 hours and these vehicles should not be stopped anywhere in the province.

The meeting reviewed the situation in the locked down areas and issued instructions to strictly enforce restriction of wearing face masks throughout the province and take action in case of violation.

The Chief Secretary also asked the administrative officers to prepare a record of sugar stocks in the province and submit a report within three days.