Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said the number of positive cases in Sindh is still less than other provinces.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi on Monday on coronavirus SOPs, he said Sindh had suggested closure of inter-provincial transport which was not accepted.
The number of coronavirus patients in Sindh has tripled in the past few days and the death toll has also increased. The federal government did not accept the proposal of strict lockdown, so the Sindh government has decided to take action on its own.
He said that the provincial government also requested to deploy army so that coronavirus SOPs could be implemented. Under Article 245, the provincial government can request to call in the army, the chief minister added.
It has been decided to call in the army in today’s meeting of the provincial cabinet, he said.
The chief minister said as coronavirus pandemic situation worsened, we increased facilities in hospitals in the province. If the people ignore SOPs, strict lockdown would have to be clamped, he added.
Murad Ali Shah said the number of positive coronavirus patients has increased in Sindh. There are 21 percent positive cases in Karachi East and 16 percent in Hyderabad, he continued.
The federal government has provided the Sindh government 11,000 Cansino vaccine, Murad Ali Shah said.
The center will provide 100,000 Sinopharm vaccine doses today, he added.
He said Sindh government wanted to buy vaccines but except China and Russia, they are not available anywhere.
About oxygen situation, Murad Ali Shah said three hospitals in Sindh have generation plants. The Sindh government is talking to the center to make Pak Steel plant operational, he added.
The Sindh government is considering to set up its own oxygen plant, he continued.
Regarding coronavirus SOPs, the chief minister said 20 percent will work in government offices in the province.
Office hours have been reduced from 9 am to 2 pm. Employees have been directed to be available on phone and work from home. They should stay in their cities, he said.
Schools, colleges and universities will remain closed.
Murad Ali Shah said outdoor dinning will also be prohibited after Iftar today.
