PM declares support package, youth force, a public fund to fight COVID-19

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has declared a multi-billion relief package, the enterprise of youth force, and public funds when his address to the nation to uphold coronavirus pandemic across Pakistan.

PM Imran Khan told the world is grappling a war toward coronavirus pandemic, and Pakistan is also holding the extent of the virus by appropriating all possible sources.

“All nation is conflict coronavirus beneath its range while China is the only country approximately the world that became successful in defeating coronavirus pandemic by locking down approximately 20 million people.”

“We can also put our country on a total lockdown to fight COVID-19, but 25 percent of Pakistan’s population is already below the poorness line. It would be our ability to provide quota to those people after forcing a lockdown. Otherwise, the complete closing will not be helpful.”

“A lockdown will not be a reliable choice without giving food to the people as the virus would not differentiate between a rich and a poor person.

PM Imran Khan, while speaking to media persons in Islamabad today, said police should clear those people restrained during the lockdown. He added that the government is fully aware of the complexities remaining faced by the nationals, and further steps are underway to provide relief to the people.

“We are going to start a better welfare plan under the Ehsaas program. Whoever wants to do a good action could easily reach the worthy people through a database,” he added.

He reported that 75 percent of COVID-19 patients arrived in Pakistan from foreign nations. The government had suffered trouble to transport back Pakistani students from China. PM Khan said that the authorities were transporting back Pakistanis from foreign countries in limited numbers.

QUETTA: Two coronavirus cases were freed from a hospital in Balochistan after improving from the disease generated by COVID-19, according to the provincial government’s spokesperson.

Liaqat Shahwani said both patients had been under medication at the Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Quetta, since they were diagnosed with the virus.

They were released from the hospital after they tested negative for the COVID-19 after treatment.

It is to consider here that the death toll from the COVID-19 in the country has soared to 10 after Punjab recorded its fourth coronavirus death today.

According to the Punjab Health Department, a 70-year-old coronavirus patient died in Lahore’s Mayo Hospital here on Friday. He was a citizen of Sheikhupura.

This is the fourth coronavirus death in Punjab and second in Lahore.

A total of 1,296 proved coronavirus cases have been listed in Pakistan so far.

Sindh has published the highest number of 440 coronavirus cases, whereas the number of cases in Punjab holds at 425.

Balochistan has published 131 COVID-19 cases, KP 147, Gilgit-Baltistan, 91, Islamabad 27, and Azad Kashmir two.

“We have to fight coronavirus with integrity and stability. In India, a complete lockdown was forced three days ago, but [Indian Prime Minister Narendra] Modi is now seeking an acknowledgment from its nation for the lockdown decision without a plan. People will surely die of desire if India continues its lockdown.”

“I want to tell my nation that we have to fight this war with a strategy. We will take a conclusion after a proper investigation of the country’s situation. If we lock down any area, then it would be probable or not to provide food among the people.”

The premier said the federal government has announced the biggest-ever support package in the history of Pakistan as its volume is $8 billion.

“Emaan [faith] is our power. Pakistanis are the nation that donates most [around the world], and its young population is the second biggest in the world.

“With these two powers, we will win the battle against coronavirus. I am declaring [establishment of] Corona Relief Tiger Force that will work alongside with protected forces and civil administration.

PM Khan said the force will be comprised of young doctors, drivers, and people from any field, which would be utilized to give food and essential materials to the areas likely to face lockdown. The force will also guide people for self-isolation inside their houses.

The premier has also announced the establishment of Prime Minister’s Corona Relief Fund and vowed to present all details of spendings before the nation to maintain transparency. He appended that the account, to be founded at State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), will be audited for guaranteeing the clarity rules.

“I cannot say right now to which limit the virus would grow, but we will give an opinion with five days or a week. If we go for the lockdown of some areas, Tiger Force will distribute ration among the nationals there.”

He said that only four to five percent of patients have to move to the hospitals for COVID-19 treatment, whereas 86 percent of people improve their health from the disease.

He reiterated that a state cannot win the battle against COVID-19 only by using its resources but to adopt a robust strategy to contain the pandemic.

“The money transferred to the government’s relief fund will not be examined. The funds will be used if the government needs to increase the volume of its financial aid to the nationals.”

Under the relief package, the central bank will provide easy loans to the firms avoiding to unemploy their laborers.

PM Khan clarified that there was no shortage of food commodities in the country and warned strict action by the federal authorities against hoarders.

The premier appealed the nationals to strictly adopt precautionary measures and maintain social distancing to overcome the pandemic.

Prime Minister Imran Khan last week announced a multi-billion package involving relief for labor and underprivileged class, business community and industries, and farmers between shutdown in various parts of the country amid coronavirus pandemic.

The prime minister said that they have earmarked Rs 200 billion for labor class and are also in touch with the provinces and business community to devise a strategy as to how they could promote the federal government in the process.

The prime minister declared a Rs 150 billion package for poor sections of the society under which each family would be given Rs 3000 for the next four months. “We are also extending the sphere of defense homes and are also setting aside Rs 50 billion for utility store to provide them necessary commodity items on lower prices.