By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Dr Noour Haq Qadri on Sunday said that Torkham border would soon be opened for stranded Pakistanis citizens in Afghanistan to come to their country.
Dr Noorul Haq Qadri was talking to FATAVOICE said that Pakistan has done all necessary work and quarantine centres had been established for those coming from Afghanistan.
Qadri thanked Pakistani citizens stranded in Afghanistan for their patience and urged them to remain calm as they would soon be allowed to enter Pakistan. He said from April 14 or 15 Torkham border would be opened so that Pakistani citizens could come to their country. He said the federal government with Afghanistan agreed to allow Pakistanis to cross the border in a few phases.
Meanwhile, all Line departments meeting headed by assistant commissioner Muhammad Imran were held at the Landikotal administration compound and discussed various issues regarding the border.
Besides steps taken to stop the Coronavirus spread in Landikotal, Line department representatives discussed preparations to quarantine those Pakistani nationals to enter Pakistan from Afghanistan via the Torkham entry point in the coming days.
The meeting was attended by the director of health and services Dr Niaz Afridi, the Medical Superintendent of DHQ hospital Dr Nekdad Afridi, Additional assistant commissioner Shamsul Islam, tehsildar Asmatullah Wazir, DSP circle Swalzar Khan Afridi and army officials.
The meeting was informed that every public servant should perform their duty honestly so that they could ensure to quarantine of each person coming from Afghanistan.
Dr Nekdad Afridi said they have provided all necessities including proper food, electricity, internet and health staff for those quarantined in DHQ hospital. He said the health staff at DHQ hospital in Landikotal was committed and serving 24 hours.
Director of health and services Dr Niaz Afridi said people around the world were at war against Coronavirus. He said they can only defeat Coronavirus by taking protective measures.
He said they have established four quarantine centres in Landikotal and regularly run an awareness campaign.
He said a large number of people would cross the Torkham border on a daily basis who should be monitored and quarantined.
Regarding the security of the quarantine centres DSP Swalzar Khan said he had posted extra police personnel at every quarantine centre. He said those who violated the 144 section have been arrested.
Tehsildar said the space at the established quarantine centres was for only three thousand patients which was not enough for those coming from Afghanistan. He said they should establish a few more quarantine centres and isolation wards urgently as they expect around ten thousand people to enter via the Torkham border into Pakistan in a few days.
