Daily Times

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said the government is constantly monitoring the steps being taken by different countries to curb coronavirus so that the best measures could be adopted according to the country’s situation.

Chairing a meeting to review pandemic situation in the country, he said Pakistan’s situation is different from other countries as it is not only confronting the coronavirus but also poverty and unemployment. The government will take decisions keeping in view the ground situation, he added.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Economic Affairs Hamad Azhar, Minister for National Food Security Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for Planning Asad Umar, special assistants Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Dr Zafar Mirza and Dr Moeed Yusuf, NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal, PM’s Focal Person on Corona Dr Faisal Sultan and senior officials.

The prime minister approved one-month additional salary for all the doctors and paramedical staff working in the federal capital. He appreciated the passion and services of doctors and paramedics for serving the humanity in the difficult time and unfavourable circumstances. He said the government is committed to fulfil all the requirements of doctors and paramedics on a priority basis.

Minister for Planning Asad Umar briefed the meeting about the steps taken regarding the economic and administrative situation in the perspective of coronavirus situation, particularly uninterrupted supply of wheat from Sindh to Balochistan and Punjab and keeping the industrial units operational, progress on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects, improvement in coordination between the federation and the federating units and collecting authentic data about coronavirus in the country.

The meeting decided that a multidisciplinary research committee will be formed in the next meeting of National Coordination Committee (NCC). The committee will formulate its recommendations about various sectors and submit those to the NCC so that the future policy could be formulated.

The prime minister said the availability of correct and authentic date in the present situation is very important, warning no negligence will be tolerated about the provision of correct data.

NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal briefed the meeting about availability of required medical facilities, testing kits, ventilators and other equipment, and the steps taken in this regard. The prime minister was told that initially two private laboratories are being provided the equipment for coronavirus test by the NDMA so that maximum reduction could be brought in the cost of tests. On the basis of that experience, the facility will be now provided to 14 more laboratories, he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan hoped that the country will overcome the coronavirus outbreak using available resources as the current trajectory of the growth in Pakistan is relatively slower than that in the western countries. “By the grace of Allah, Pakistan does not have the trajectory like other countries. We will overcome the coronavirus considering the current pace of its growth,” he said while addressing a ceremony of distribution of Rs 100 billion refunds among the businessmen.

The prime minister said during the lockdown, the people must avoid gatherings like weddings, cinemas and sports though the educational institutes have already been closed. However, he said amid the efforts of containing the Covid-19 disease, the government will have to create a balance allowing the industries which are essential to provide employment to the poor people.

Prime Minister Imran Khan directed the ministry concerned to accelerate reforms in the energy sector by removing the systemic hurdles and effectively utilizing the limited resources for ensuring relief to the common man. The problems in the energy sector are directly related to the people’s lives, which necessitated their accelerated solution, he observed.

The prime minister said the resolution of energy-related issues is among the government’s priorities and the reforms process in the gas sector will continue uninterrupted. He said the availability of limited gas reservoirs necessitated the judicious and productive use of the resources. He called for considering the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the areas lacking the supply of natural gas to make the people meet their daily needs without cutting trees for the purpose.