ISLAMABAD: A five-member bench of the Supreme Court will hear on Tuesday (tomorrow) a suo motu case regarding combating the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

The bench is headed Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and includes Justice Mushir Alam, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel.

On Saturday, the Punjab government had submitted a progress report which stated that a list of drugs for prevention of coronavirus had been compiled in accordance with the guidelines of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan.

It said instructions had also been issued for the supply of essential medicines, including Dettol, in the market across the province.

The report stated that news about shortage of medicines in Punjab was baseless and a mechanism was in place to deal with such a situation.

It said that the number of designated pharmacies had been increased keeping in view the spread of coronavirus as designated pharmacies were providing services in 21 districts at present, while hoarding of oxygen and medicinesand profiteering had been banned in the province.

The report stated that more than Rs468 million had been allocated in the financial year 2020-21 for the purchase of new vehicles across the province, out of which Rs29m had been allocated for the Agriculture Department.

It said that no money was allocated for the purchase of new vehicles to eradicate locusts, while Rs706m had been set aside in the annual development programme for eradication of locusts in Multan. The report stated that the salaries of sanitary workers had been paid till June 30.

It said precautionary measures had been taken by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority for the monsoon season. The measures included inspection of floodwaters and establishment of a flood control room.

The report stated that the Razaabad area of Faisalabad consisted of three main bazaars and 25 streets and the drainage system in this area was old.

It said that work began to improve the area`s drainage system in March, but it was halted due to the coronavirus.

Work to rehabilitate the drainage system has been resumed on June 21 and it would be completed soon.

The report said the Water and Sanitation Agency had prepared a plan to improve water supply and sewerage system in urban areas of Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala.-APP