The Punjab Minister for Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal presided over a high-level meeting here at Civil Secretariat today. Availability of protective masks, gloves, gowns and other surgical equipment, their prices and manufacturing at the local level were reviewed in the meeting. Importers of surgical equipment gave proposing to eradicate import duty and GST on surgical equipment.

Provincial Minister assured to talk federal government regarding this matter. Secretary Health Capt. (Retd.) Muhammad Usman, Additional Secretary Industries Ashar Zaidi, officers of Health and Industries departments attended the meeting. Importers of surgical equipment were present in the meeting. While addressing the meeting, Provincial Minister for Industries & Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal has said that rising prices of masks, surgical equipment and their shortage and hoarding is deplorable.

As a nation, this attitude is not proper. He said that people should be given awareness regarding protective measures against coronavirus. People should be informed through print and electronic media and they should be advised to change their lifestyle and pay full attention to cleanliness. Provincial Minister said that a consultation would be made with the manufacturers of surgical equipment on manufacturing these items at the local level in the next meeting. Pamper industry would also be consulted in this regard. It is the matter of human life therefore no compromise will be made on the quality of surgical equipment, the minister included.