Daily Times

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday addressing a parliamentary committee session hailed the work being done by each individual in the wake of the global coronavirus outbreak.

The foreign minister stressed that it is necessary to focus energies on healthcare and economy in these torrid times.

“Pakistan’s economy can’t sustain a prolonged lock down, we must create a balance between the economy and wellbeing of our people,” said Qureshi.

“Prolonged lock down can be detrimental for the poor strata of the society, I thank God that coronavirus has not wreaked havoc in the country like it has in many others, comparatively Pakistan’s coronavirus numbers are hopeful.”

FM Qureshi also asked authorities to actively address problems being faced by healthcare professionals and urged that they be provided with all the necessary medical and safety equipment to take care of those affected by the dangerous pathogen.

Qureshi said that the holy month of Ramazan is a crucial time for the country and strict vigilance is required to avoid disaster.

FM Qureshi said that the government is doing its best with the limited resources at its disposal but the main onus lies on the masses and the precautions they take against the virus.

Speaking on the occasion, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has said that the parliament was playing it utmost role to curb the coronavirus in the country.

He said the situation will be reviewed every week. Asad Qaiser has urged upon all the members of the political parties to work together for a broad-based strategy to fight COVID-19.

“Parliamentary representatives can bring awareness regarding this disease in their respective constituencies and there was a need to keep a balance between Health issues and the economic challenges faced by the common people”, he said.

The speaker said that only representatives of common were capable to evolve a broad-based strategy. He stressed the need for a unanimous narrative to counter the coronavirus pandemic. He also stressed the need for a follow-up mechanism in order to promptly get the recommendations of the Committee implemented.

He, therefore, constituted a sub-committee headed by Senator Syed Shibli Faraz with Ali Muhammad Khan, Senator Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Ms Shahida Akthar Ali and Dr Nosheen Hamid, Parliamentary Secretary for Health as its Members to follow-up the recommendations of the Committee.

Punjab Minister for Health Dr Yasmin Rashid briefed the committee on the number of coronavirus tests conducted, patients found positive, medical facilities available in the hospitals and Isolation and quarantine centres established in Punjab. She apprised that till date 58000 tests have been conducted out which 3721 have been diagnosed positive out of which 2100 belonged to Tablighi Jamaat, pilgrims and inmates.

She informed that an aggressive strategy had been formulated to carryout corona tests in Lahore being the epicentre to access the exact quantum of people affected by the virus. She said that the quarantine and isolation facilities have been intensified in different parts of the provinces besides enhancing the present testing capacity of 3000 per day to 21000 tests per day.

Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeez-ur-Rehman apprised the committee that 2667 tests have been conducted out of which 265 were positive. He said that the recovery rate of corona patients in Gilgit-Baltistan was 70% and it will improve exponentially with the support of the government.

He stressed the need for extending financial support to Gilgit-Baltistan since its economy was dependant on Tourism and Agriculture which had been severely affected. He asked for inclusion of destitute from Gilgit-Baltistan in Federal Government’s Ehsaas financial assistance program and BISP.

The minister for health, KPK, Taimur Jhagra while apprising the committee said that massive testing was required in KPK since he feared that situation could get worst due to hidden cases.

He said that the Government had taken appropriate measures in every district of the province since it had the presence of Corona cases in its entire districts. He apprised the committee about the testing capacity, quarantine and isolation facilities besides equipping the medical practitioners and paramedics with required protective gear.

The Minister for Health Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Chairman Standing Committee on Health Balochistan apprised the Committee about the measures initiated to control the coronavirus in their respective jurisdictions. The Health Minister AJ&K suggested that doctors and paramedics should be provided Level-1 Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) since they were at the forefront and more prone to disease.

He informed that a number of positive corona cases in AJ&K were 49 which were traced, tested and quarantined accordingly. The Reprehensive of Balochistan suggested for provision of an adequate number of VTM Kits for conducting tests in the province. She also suggested for reinitiating of the children Immunization program in Balochistan since wellbeing of the children should be our priority.

Minister for Health Sindh apprised the Committee that the despite inadequate medical facilities and an increasing number of corona cases, the province was trying utmost to coup with the situation.

She said that the situation of coronavirus may worsen in the coming weeks, therefore, she suggested for strict lockdown stopping the local transmission of the virus. She informed that the OPDs and immunization in Sindh province was operational, however, it was not well pace up.

Special Assistants to Prime Minister on Health and Social Safety Dr Zafar Mirza and Dr Sania Nister apprised the committee about the latest update about their respective departments.