Daily Times

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday said the federal government is utilising all resources to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country.

Talking to his adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan, who called on him in the capital, the prime minister said the biggest challenge was to provide relief to a common man hit the hardest by the lockdown restrictions enforced to stem the spread of the deadly virus.

He said he was happy that his economic team hammered out an emergency action plan in a timely manner. He announced that the government was going to take big steps to accelerate economic activity in the country. In his remarks, Babar Awan said the government rolled out poor-friendly relief packages for the first time in the country’s history. The government exhibited statesmanship in testing times, he said.

Taking aim at opposition leaders, he said they had been playing politics of accusations and had no manifestos for the well-being of the people. He said safety measures would be ensured before a session of the National Assembly was convened.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Canadian counterpart Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic and other matters of mutual interest over telephone on Sunday night. Offering deep condolences over the loss of precious lives, Prime Minister Imran underscored that the pandemic was an unprecedented calamity, necessitating closer international cooperation, said a statement issued by his office.

Pakistan along with other developing countries was confronted with the twin challenge of saving lives and containing the infection, while simultaneously shoring up the economy, the premier was quoted as saying during the conversation. Pakistan condemns media harassment in Occupied Kashmir on Press Freedom Day Prime Minister Imran thanked Canada for its support for Pakistan’s inclusion in the G20’s debt relief initiative. Underlining the need to create greater fiscal space for developing countries to save lives, and undertake coordinated action to ward off socioeconomic challenges, the premier hoped that Canada would lend support to the ‘Global Initiative for Debt Relief.’ The two leaders also discussed the status of repatriation of each other’s nationals from their respective countries. Both appreciated the facilitation provided by the two sides in this context. Prime Minister Imran also expressed deep concern over demonisation of the Muslim minority in India in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also apprised his Canadian counterpart of the situation in Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJ&K), where the communication restrictions and lack of unfettered access to medical and other essential supplies were compounding the Covid-19 challenge for the Kashmiris. The two leaders agreed to remain closely engaged on all matters of common interest.