Prime-Minister-Imran-Khan-1Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that Pakistan cannot afford to go into a lockdown again, and urged everyone to strictly follow the preventive measures against the novel coronavirus.
Addressing a Cabinet meeting here in the federal capital, PM Imran Khan said the provincial governments needed to ensure the implementation of Trace, Test & Quarantine (TTQ) and smart lockdown strategies pertaining to the coronavirus.
“The country cannot afford lockdown again,” the premier said after the Cabinet was briefed on the COVID-19 situation across the nation.
Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar – who also heads the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) – and the premier’s aide on health, Dr Faisal Sultan, informed the Cabinet that the number of coronavirus patients, as well as virus-related deaths, was increasing,
Adherence to COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) needed to be ensured, Umar and Sultan said.
The federal government also decided to strictly implement coronavirus SOPs.
As of reporting time, Pakistan has recorded 336,260 coronavirus cases, of which 315,446 have recovered, and close to 7,000 deaths. Sindh has the highest number of cases, at 146,774, with Punjab closely following at 104,894.
Separately, accompanied by his economic team in Islamabad, the prime minister announced a package for small industries, underscoring that Pakistan’s industries would not be closed down now. Additional power to small-scale industries would be provided at a cost of 50%, he said.
If the number of COVID-19 cases rises, the businesses and industries would continue their operations while heeding the SOPs, he added.
PM Imran Khan said the second wave of the deadly coronavirus was spreading rapidly throughout the world and cases in Pakistan were also shooting up. “God Almighty has been very kind to Pakistan; we have made wise decisions and God has been gracious,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly Secretariat and the Senate Secretariat has directed to close down their respective offices for the next three days amid rising coronavirus cases. “Official transport shall remain suspended from November 9,” a notification issued by the NA Secretariat said, adding that offices will remain closed till Nov 6 for disinfection. Further, all the heads of respective wings were told to have not more than a quarter of their staff members come to the office from Monday [November 9] while the remaining staff will work from home.
“Any employee with Covid-19 symptoms should get themselves tested immediately and report to the Establishment Branch,” the notification said, adding that committee meetings scheduled between Nov 6 and Nov 9 had been cancelled.
The Senate Secretariat also issued a similar notification which stated that all offices will remain closed for three days until Nov 6 for disinfection.
“Only minimum essential staff will attend offices. Officials not coming to the office should remain available on call and will not leave the station without the approval of the competent authority,” it said.
Also, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umer Tuesday said the government would continue its smart lockdown policy during second wave of the COVID-19 without putting additional pressure on the common man. “Smart lockdown and protecting employment opportunities at the same time was hallmark of the government strategy during the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said while accompanying Prime Minister Imran Khan during a briefing on power relief package here.
He said the government would also adopt the same strategy during the second wave so that the economic activities should not get affected.
He said the government had adopted the comprehensive strategy for the early revival of local industry in post Covid-19 pandemic scenarios.
Due to such prudent strategies of the government, he said the local economy was rapidly reviving as compared to the other countries of the world. news desk
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