Daily Times

Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar said that the government’s plans to further easing lockdown restrictions aims at mitigating the miseries of poor and daily wage earners. He said that the hunger has also started posing as a big threat to the well-being of people in the country. While the existing lockdown period is ending on May 9, the Governor said there were reports that the coronavirus infection cases might rise. “War against coronavirus cannot be won on roads but by staying back at homes,” the governor appealed to masses. The governor said that the people of Pakistan fully knew who were serving them and who were making just hollow slogans. He said people would hold all such elements accountable those who made promises but failed to fulfill. Chaudhry Sarwar said all provinces were exercising their autonomy and the issue of amending the 18th Amendment had not been raised at any forum including the parliament.

Stating that the coronavirus pandemic had also affected clean drinking project – “Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority”, the governor said that he would still fulfill his promise of providing clean drinking water to people across the province. The governor was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Water Filtration Plant installed by the Sarwar Foundation at Lahore Press Club (LPC) on Tuesday. Sarwar Foundation’s vice-chairperson Begum Perveen Sarwar, LPC President Arshad Ansari, secretary Babar Dogar, vice-president Qazzafi Butt, Governing Body members Shahid Chaudhry and senior journalist Javed Farooqi were present at the inauguration ceremony. Chaudhry Sarwar said the government had introduced “smart lockdown” to save the business community and small-scale traders from further economic meltdown. He stressed that easing of restrictions of lockdown must not be considered that the coronavirus pandemic had subsided. He said masses’ unmindful movement on roads, bazaars and streets would massively increase the threat of coronavirus spread. “The government and doctors are urging masses to stay at home and don’t go outside and bring coronavirus home to infect their families,” he warned. Replying to a question, the governor said hundreds and thousands of people were facing life threat in the wake of coronavirus and on the other hand country facing serious economic crisis.

In these hard times, he said, the nation would not forgive those trying to give them lollypops and held them accountable at appropriate time. He said the government had taken elaborate measures to offer financial assistance to poor masses but the government alone could not defeat coronavirus pandemic single handedly. He said the poor were being provided ration through the Rescue 1122. He stressed that people should change their attitudes, stay home and help the needy around them. The Governor said that he was happy that he could get a filtration plant installed in LPC so that media persons could drink safe potable water. He said people of Punjab would soon be able to get clean drinking water and they would protect themselves from various diseases.