ISLAMABAD – Declaring that the federal government won’t withhold any data relating to the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday urged the nation to undertake preventive measures, like social-distancing and self-quarantine, to save lots of themselves from the lethal virus.
Speaking to a gaggle of senior media individuals within the capital, the Prime Minister expressed concern that if Pakistan confronted a pointy spike in circumstances it might create a critical state of affairs. “I fear that if the number of coronavirus cases spiked suddenly, like it happened in Europe, our health care system would not be able to cope with the situation as there are not enough ventilators and ICUs.”
Advisor to the PM on Finance Dr Hafeez Sheikh, Particular Assistant to the PM on Well being Dr Zafar Mirza and Nationwide Catastrophe Administration Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal have been additionally current on the press assembly.
In an intensive interview Prime Minister warned the folks to strictly observe social distancing measures because the nation is going through two main threats as a result of novel coronavirus outbreak, saying “people should self-quarantine for at least another 45 days to help tackle the crisis”.
“Nobody can tell how long this situation will continue” he stated and urged the folks to struggle this warfare towards the lethal illness as a nation.
The Prime Minister stated because the lethal virus might trigger panic within the society, the folks from the media, together with journalists, opinion-makers, anchors and house owners of media homes, had an vital function in dissemination of correct data and avoiding sensationalism.
The federal government, he stated, would give pointers to the Pakistan Digital Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and different media our bodies in that respect. “If the people started panic-buying, there will be shortage of commodities, especially food items, and the prices will shoot up,” he remarked.
The prime minister referred to the media studies concerning the supermarkets in america and different Western international locations emptied by the folks in panic in addition to queues for buying weapons.
The Prime Minister stated the state of affairs is being monitored and tracked on every day foundation to gauge its impacts. He stated experiences of varied international locations, particularly China, will likely be utilized to deal with the menace of coronavirus.
Imran Khan stated the federal government is absolutely alert to the risk and it has been determined that every one federal ministers will likely be accessible in Islamabad throughout this disaster and they won’t be given depart.
He stated he’ll replace the folks concerning the coronavirus state of affairs twice every week. He stated no data will likely be withheld from folks, in order that immediate motion could be taken.
Dispelling the unfavorable impression created by some media channels on steps taken by federal authorities within the wake of coronavirus, the Prime Minister stated the federal government was in fixed contact with the Chinese language authorities when the circumstances of virus first emerged of their nation.
Later, when the circumstances have been traced in Iran, we additionally began speaking with Tehran relating to the state of affairs.
He stated Particular Assistant on Well being Dr. Zafar Mirza visited Taftan space to witness the state of affairs first-hand.
Because of this, a variety of measures have been adopted for higher screening of sufferers of coronavirus in collaboration with military and civilian authorities. He stated it’s not proper in charge anybody on this disaster.
The Prime Minister urged the worldwide neighborhood to carry sanctions from Iran as they’re coping with this case regardless of having restricted assets and medical services.
Imran Khan stated if the circumstances spike in Pakistan, 4 to 5 p.c of the folks may have hospitalization which is able to put a pressure on accessible medical assets.
He stated even in superior international locations like Italy, the state of affairs is turning into important on account of scarcity of medical provides.
The Prime Minister stated we’ve to strike stability between stopping gatherings of individuals and the protection of their livelihoods.
“We’re going to present incentives to development business to create employment alternatives. We would like folks to train self-discipline, somewhat than locking down complete cities’, he added.
Imran Khan stated work is underway on making a monetary bundle that will likely be introduced on subsequent Tuesday. He stated all stakeholders, together with State Financial institution of Pakistan, Ministry of Finance and FBR are concerned within the preparation of this bundle to offer incentives.
Talking on the event, Advisor on Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh stated the federal government is engaged on a joint technique to carry a stimulus bundle for the areas of financial system being harm on account of coronavirus.
He stated the financial indicators of the nation have been exhibiting progress earlier than the eruption of coronavirus, however as the worldwide financial system is slowing down as a result of international pandemic our exports are additionally more likely to be impacted.
It might additionally cut back the international remittances acquired by the nation, moreover decreasing job creation alternatives. Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh stated a survey is being carried out to know which industries are hurting probably the most on this disaster.
He stated as a part of stimulus measures, taxes will likely be lowered on sure merchandise whereas subsidies will likely be given on others. He stated disbursements underneath Ehsaas program will likely be accelerated in order that susceptible segments of the society usually are not impacted.
He stated he was towards the lockdown of cities due to the truth that distributors, daily-wagers and labourers in Pakistan couldn’t survive with out earnings. “Our effort, by means of the financial bundle, is to carry the decrease strata of society into the social community,” he maintained.
To a different query, Imran Khan stated the federal government was engaged on the institution of quarantine services in Pakistan for 150,000 expatriates, who have been at the moment trapped within the international locations going through the spike of coronavirus, and wished to return again to their motherland. After the institution of quarantine services by the NDMA inside the subsequent two weeks, the federal government would permit the abroad Pakistanis to journey again to the homeland, he added. Furthermore, one ward in all the key hospitals had been specified as an isolation facility, he added.
NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal advised the media that the federal government had created 1600 mattress capability in 9 hospitals with three in Punjab, two in Sindh, one every in Quetta and Gwadar, two in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, one every in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and two small hospitals in Gilgit Baltistan.
He stated at the moment 12 million masks have been accessible in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, and one other 12 million had been booked with totally different distributors in Pakistan. Round 100,000 masks have been accessible in Peshawar and 50,000 in Balochistan.
He stated the distribution of round 12,500 fits would begin by Saturday for the well being staff. Some 2,000 thermal weapons had been positioned on the entry factors of various authorities departments, whereas one other 30,000 can be imported from China quickly.
The NDMA chief stated that they had round 15,000 N-95 masks accessible within the inventory and would obtain one other 50,000 by Friday night time. The Chinese language enterprise big Alibaba had additionally donated 50,000 masks to Pakistan.
He advised the media that round 1700 ventilators have been accessible throughout the nation, with 600 in non-public hospitals of Sindh, KP and Punjab.
He stated the ventilators weren’t accessible within the worldwide market, nevertheless, with the Chinese language assist, Pakistan had been capable of e-book round 800 ventilators. The federal government was in touch with the corporate to extend the quantity to six,000.
He stated the NDMA was making an attempt to get 1200-1500 ventilators with none delay and hopefully would get 25 ventilators by Saturday.
He stated 200,000 N-95 masks had been ordered primarily for the hospital staff. The variety of cell X-rays would even be doubled, he added.
He stated three lodging had been established in any respect the three entry factors on the western border having whole capability of 1,200 single beds and washrooms with the supply of 1,000 extra beds.
