India has faced an oxygen crisis since last week. However, he advised the public to not panic. Pakistan will face the same crisis if the cases surge. Therefore, Pakistan needs to take timely actions. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has told that Pakistan can import oxygen tankers from china or Iran if the situation worsens.
Emergency Step
This comes after the incidents in India and the approval of making Pakistan Steel Mills operational to produce oxygen tankers. The initiative will help counter the oxygen crisis. These oxygen tankers will help cure serious cases. In Pakistan, there are around 5000 critical cases as the third wave of COVID hits with full force.
Revival of Pakistan Steel Mills
Prime Minister Imran Khan\’s advised the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC). The NCOC gave the National Engineers Welfare Organization permission to do a preliminary study of the oxygen factory.
Reportedly, the government appointed a delegation of expert engineers. The delegation met with the chief executive of Pakistan Steel Mills Brigadier (Retd) Shuja Hassan. They discussed how to make the mill start operating again.
Engineers Playing their Role
Moreover, Mohsin Ali Khan of the National Engineer Welfare Association said that the NCOC had contacted the engineer association and offered us assistance. He informed that before starting work an inspection will be done. Mohsin stated that Pakistan steel mills have available facilities and little to no imports will be required for the product.
Additionally, he added that Pakistan Steel Mill engineers themselves can repair the equipment required for the product and some necessary materials can also be manufactured locally, thus, no requirement for imports. The most important thing, he said, is the power supply to the oxygen plant, because before the plant shut down, Pakistan Steel supplied power to the oxygen plant from its own power plant.
Cooperation is the Only Way
Lastly, Mohsin also talked about how K-electric constant involvement is required and that cooperation will be the only way to get quick access to oxygen plant revival. He added that after inspection, a report will be typed in, then it will be submitted to the PM office, and from there, any policy regarding the duration and deadline of oxygen plant revival will be decided, while keeping in view the equipment required.
