Daily Times

Leader of the opposition in National Assembly and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif said that a National Action Plan is immediately required to defeat the menace of Corona Virus that has been declared as a pandemic by the WHO. “We are in the war in real meaning and I think it is World War III where there is the whole world at one side and the deadly virus on the other side,” said PML-N President, while addressing a press conference in Lahore through video link. He further added that Pakistan desperately needs the same spirit and courage that our nation showed at the time of APS attack to defeat the terrorism. He urged the nation to get united in the same way as it got united at the time of APS attack. We have to make timely decisions to defeat the Corona because its already too late and we cannot afford further delay in this regard, said Sharif.

He also appreciated the Chinese government for its timely action to defeat the deadly virus as China has made an example for the world. The opposition leader also appreciated the efforts of Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah and his team the way he made timely arrangements to curb the virus. “Bilawal Bhutto Zardari told me that the federal government is not supporting the Sindh government to fight against the pandemic that is really unfortunate,” said PML-N President, while addressing the MPC on the situation of Corona Virus and later in the press briefing through video link.

In his demands to the government, the opposition leader urged the Prime Minister to declare the financial emergency in the country to deal with the situation. He said that the government should include 3 million more women in the BISP and it should be spread in the urban areas as well. The government must give 3000 rupees to every family until the situation improves. The opposition leader also demanded that the price of petroleum items must be decreased by Rs 70 per liter to give relief to the public. He also demanded that the salaries of doctors, nurses and paramedics must be doubled as they are fighting a war right now. The PML-N has also decided to give 10,000 kits to the doctors all over the province who are treating the suspects of Corona Virus. According to Shehbaz Sharif, the PM must summon a meeting of Council of Common Interest (CCI) to apprise all the stakeholders over the situation of Corona spread. “I was there in London with my brother and leader but I decided to come back to Pakistan when I witnessed a surge in the cases of Corona Virus in my country,” said Shehbaz Sharif.

Meanwhile, Shehbaz Sharif has also called a meeting of PML-N office bearers today (Wednesday) through video link. The Secretary General of PML-N Ahsan Iqbal said that all the MNAs, MPAs, Senators and members of Central Executive Committee of PML-N will participate in the meeting called on the situation of Corona through video link.

According to the opposition leader, if the correct measures were set in place including proper testing mechanisms, correct quarantine protocols, and properly built isolation centres, then the situation in Pakistan would not have escalated further. He urged the government to order ventilators from abroad, the same way the PML-N government ordered platelet machines from Germany during dengue epidemic in the province.