PM Imran Khan. PHOTO: PTI
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday urged the political management within the nation to remain united and proceed dialogue and reassessment of the methods to deal with the unfold of coronavirus.
Addressing parliamentary leaders by way of a video hyperlink, Imran mentioned that the federal government couldn’t battle any problem alone nevertheless it might win the problem with collective efforts of the nation. “Only the nation can defeat coronavirus, no government can fight it alone,” he mentioned.
The federal government didn’t have a “hard and fast solution” to the issue however was absolutely cognisant of the pandemic and had taken quite a few steps in coordination with the provincial governments, Imran instructed the contributors.
Requesting the political management to present their enter and recommendations, Imran mentioned that the federal government would evaluation the scenario arising out of the lockdown within the Nationwide Coordination Committee assembly on Thursday (at the moment).
Imran went offline with out listening to what the opposition leaders needed to say in response. This prompted Opposition Chief within the Nationwide Meeting Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Celebration Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to stroll out of the assembly.
Sharif later tweeted that he was “disappointed by PM’s intentional absence from the meeting of parliamentary leaders. It seems he is still not ready to listen to the Opposition & the whole country just saw the seriousness of its Chief Executive. I was left with no option but to walk out in protest.”
The prime minister began his speech by saying that it was not attainable to rationally decide the repercussions of choices taken underneath worry or panic. He careworn that the choice of imposing the lockdown would should be constantly reassessed.
He identified that the lockdown was initially began by shutting faculties and gatherings however the provincial governments took it to a step additional and banned public transport as effectively.
“We should not go ahead with the transport lockdown because it will cause severe problems on the supply side,” he mentioned, including that imposing a nationwide lockdown could be detrimental to the nation’s economic system and lead to elevated poverty.
He mentioned choices made in haste have been dangerous, and careworn that the coronavirus scenario was totally different in each nation. “They [other countries] are making the best decisions on their own account and we are trying our best to take the best decision in the interest of the people in view of the day-to-day changing situation,” he mentioned.
He mentioned the federal government’s main accountability was in the direction of the medical doctors and nurses, who have been performing their duties in tough circumstances. “The world is facing shortages of protection gear but our friend China is providing essential goods to Pakistan on a priority basis,” he mentioned.
PM Imran additionally revealed {that a} volunteer pressure was being raised which might be answerable for delivering reduction items to the individuals in case the nation goes right into a curfew-like lockdown. Additionally, he added, a particular fund will likely be arrange for gathering donations from Pakistanis within the nation and overseas.
Throughout his speech, Prime Minister Imran identified that the federal government resolution to not convey again college students from Wuhan, the place coronavirus first emerged in December final 12 months, was a “tough but good” resolution as not even one COVID-19 case was introduced from China.
{Foreign Minister} Shah Mehmood Qureshi, whereas addressing the concluding session of the assembly, mentioned that the federal government was fulfilling its obligations in coordination with provincial governments, nevertheless, added {that a} constructive criticism would assist it take care of the scenario in even higher approach.
He instructed the contributors that the Chinese language management acknowledged the assistance Pakistan prolonged throughout the entire disaster, thus they’ve wholeheartedly prolonged assist to the federal government of Pakistan when it comes to tools, medicines and different provides required to battle this pandemic.
In his opening remarks earlier, Nationwide Meeting Speaker Assad Qaiser, who chaired the assembly, opined that coronavirus pandemic had posed a severe risk to the well being of individuals throughout the globe in addition to inflicting severe dent to the world economies and Pakistan was no exception.
The speaker mentioned that the aim of the parliamentary discourse was to brainstorm and forge coverage tips for the federal government to deal with the pandemic and its aftermath. He appreciated the steps taken by the federal and provincial governments and the governments of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan for the affected individuals, and measures to comprise the unfold of the illness.
The assembly was attended by federal ministers Asad Umar, Sheikh Rashid, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pervaiz Khattak, Dr Fehmida Mirza, Minister of State Ali Muhammad Khan, Deputy Chairman Senate Saleem Mandviwala, Chief of the Home in Senate Shibli Faraz, Particular Assistant to PM on Well being Dr Zafar Mirza, MNAs Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti, Shahida Akthar Ali, senators Mushahidullah Khan, Anwarul Haq Kakar, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi, Usman Kakar, Aurangzeb Khan, Sitara Ayaz, and the Nationwide Catastrophe Administration Authority (NDMA) chairman.
The contributors got a briefing on the scenario arising after the coronavirus and the financial challenges going through the nation. The contributors had a normal consensus that the battle in opposition to coronavirus might be received by way of collective efforts.
They have been of the view that medical doctors and paramedics have been weak as they have been on the forefront; subsequently, they should be geared up correctly. In addition they instructed caring for the weak and marginalised segments of society by way of social safety schemes by the federal government.
