Punjab provincial cabinet has decided to increase the number of oxygen beds and ventilators in hospitals across the province on emergency basis.

Briefing newsmen in Lahore about decisions taken in cabinet meeting, Special Assistant to Punjab Chief Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the cabinet has decided to tighten further restrictions in high positive rates cities to protect the lives of the people.

She said a complete lockdown is proposed before Eid ul fiter in high rate cities including Lahore while a special cabinet committee has been constituted to make final recommendations for complete lockdown. The recommendations will be discussed at the NCOC meeting.

She said the number of corona patients in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala has increased unexpectedly and number of positive cases in 23 districts of Punjab has increased to more than eight percent.

The SACM on Information disclosed 1.12million people have been vaccinated in Punjab and a stock of 865,000 vaccines is still available.

She said senior citizens are being vaccinated at their homes and 2,220 senior citizens have so far been vaccinated.

She said the Punjab Cabinet expressed satisfaction over wheat procurement drive.

She said 69% wheat has been harvested in the province and the government has so far procured about 1.8 million metric tonnes of wheat.

The SCAM said the Punjab Cabinet approved the rules of business for the South Punjab Secretariat and secretaries posted in the South Punjab secretariat will be empowered.

She said that approval to upgrade Namal Institute Mianwali to university status was also accorded while approval was also accorded to grant university status to Ghazi Institute of Engineering, Dera Ghazi Khan.

Source: Radio Pakistan