-Claims smart lockdown will save 80pc labor from famine Urges public to wear masks
-Inquires Ch Shujaat’s health
From Abid Usman
LAHORE: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday once again rejected the closure of businesses, industries, and other economic activities in view of rising novel coronavirus cases during its second wave in Pakistan.
Talking to media here in Lahore, the prime minister said that Pakistan cannot afford another lockdown, urging the public to wear face masks to contain the spread of coronavirus cases.
“Covid infections are rapidly increasing and this will increase pressure on our hospitals. The situation can become worse if we did not take precautions,” warned the prime minister.
He said that the government managed to stabilise the national economy after making efforts. The premier directed making nationals aware of the precautionary measures.
The prime minister urged citizens to show unity in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic like they supported the government during the first coronavirus wave. He also appealed to religious scholars to continue supporting the govt’s efforts against the pandemic.
Pakistan was the only Muslim country in the world, which did not close its mosques as our religious scholars played a pivotal role in observing SOPs in mosques, said PM and added that the government has decided not to close factories and other sources of earning in order to save people’s lives from hunger.
While answering a question, PM Khan said he had postponed public rallies to avoid the spread of the contagion and the government will not allow anyone, including the opposition, to endanger the lives of people by holding public rallies.
“Opposition holding public rallies to put pressure on government in order to
get NRO,” added PM Imran. He once again urged people to wear face masks as is the easiest way to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
Separately, Mr. Khan while addressing a Pakistan Strategy Dialogue session organized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) said the national economy has embarked on the right track with stability.
The PM said that his government while trying to curb the Covid spread, ensured people don’t fall victim to famine and guaranteed financial aids to daily wagers whose sustenance was in question amid the lockdown.
The dialogue Wednesday was held via a video link wherein PM Imran Khan underlined Pakistan’s fight with the novel coronavirus which he said was different than in other countries in terms of smart lockdown steps taken to give space for economic subsistence of lower-income-class people and in terms of results and the first pandemic wave was controlled.
About 80 per cent of the Pakistani labor class belongs to informal sectors that are why we preferred smart lockdown over across-the-board lockdown like in other countries to address the economic woes of our informal workforce, he said.
He said to offset pandemic-led financial crisis and panic, the country has laid open the construction sector amid Covid outbreak for the whole value chain relevant to the sector to revive while on the other hand, he added, the government handed out cash aids to about 15 million people of the country.
Addressing the WEF session on Pakistan, he noted that his rule has steered the economy on the right direction referring to economic upturns, and added the economy is now stable as after 17 years the Current Account has turned green.
Mr. Prime Minister also visited the residence of Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to inquire after his health.
The prime minister wished Chaudhry Shujaat the best of health and prayed for his early recovery.
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, PM’s special assistant Shahbaz Gill, Federal Minister for Housing Tariq Bashir Cheema, Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, provincial lawmaker Moonis Elahi and others were also present on the occasion.
Earlier in the day, PM Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar held a one-on-one meeting in Lahore where he briefed the premier regarding the performance of the provincial cabinet.
The chief minister also apprised the premier regarding the political and administrative matters of the province in the meeting. PM Imran Khan was briefed on the progress of the multi-billion Ravi River Front Urban Development (RRFUD) project.
During the PM’s ongoing visit, Imran Khan also briefed on the Walton Airport project, universal health insurance, mega projects and legislations in the Punjab Assembly.
