Karachi: The Sindh Coronavirus Emergency Fund (CEF) has notified its receipt of PKR 3.1465 billion in donated funds received from various private organisations, government departments, and up to 948 philanthropists, a news source reported.
Provincial Finance Secretary Hassan Naqvi expressed his views on the matter during a meeting held on Thursday to review the workings of the CEF. Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah presided over the session.
The CEF Committee had previously approved PKR 1 billion for the purchase of ventilators, personal protective equipment, sanitizers, surgical masks, and other necessary laboratory and medical equipment. The meeting was informed that the procurement of the medical and laboratory equipment would be completed on a timely basis.
The CEF Committee earmarked PKR 410 million for the field hospital set up in Expo Centre, Karachi. It also approved PKR 300 million for the procurement of required equipment and upgradation of intensive care units (ICUs) in the hospitals of Sindh. Chief Secretary informed that the CEF had received PKR 14.60 million from overseas Pakistanis via I-Care Foundation.
In a separate proceeding,
Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah met English Biscuit Manufacturers
(EBM) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Zeelaf Munir who donated PKR 20 million
to the CEF. The chief minister expressed his gratitude and said that the
donation would be utilised for healthcare initiatives.
