Punjab to clamp down on black-marketing of essential drugs.

LAHORE -- Punjab Minister for Industries Mian Aslam Iqbal and Punjab Chief Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik, on Saturday, 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 Inspector-General of Police (IGP) 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. Mian Aslam Iqbal said that steps were being taken to provide the best medical facilities to the coronavirus patients. He said that all public and private hospitals would be bound to implement the decision of the Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) to freeze the charges for ventilators at the rates of February 2020.

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 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...