Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday constituted an inter-ministerial committee to monitor the economic situation on a daily basis in the context of coronavirus outbreak, and suggest preemptive measures to protect the economy from its negative impacts. The decision was taken by the prime minister, subsequent to a meeting with his economic team to discuss preemptive measures that the country could take to secure the economy from the adverse impact of coronavirus on global economy. The Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, has been tasked to head the inter-ministerial committee. The prime minister also directed the minister for EAD to get the World Bank and other international institutions to face any probable situation.
Earlier, the premier discussed in detail with his economic team including his Advisor on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Advisor on Commerce Razak Dawood, Minister for Economic Affairs Division, Hammad Azhar, Minister for National Food, Security and Research Khusro Bukhtiar, Adviser on Institutional and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, the impact of coronavirus pandemic on global economy and the country's economy.
He added that the government priority must be to ensure uninterrupted economic activities, and comprehensive strategy should be prepared to provide relief to the common man in untoward situation.
The prime minister directed his economic team to ensure availability of essential commodities, and stated that there would be zero tolerance for hoarding and profiteering and strict action would be taken against hoarders and profiteers.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a meeting of the National Coordination Committee on coronavirus to discuss future strategy in view of the measures taken so far subsequent to the decisions of the National Security Committee (NSC) and their implementation to deal with the challenge of the pandemic.
Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri, Interior Minister Ijaz Shah, Adviser on Finance Hafeez Sheikh, Special Assistant on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza, Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant for Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari and others were present on the occasion.
All the chief ministers who attended the meeting through video links gave suggestions for prevention of coronavirus at provincial levels. The prime minister stated that government was cognizant of the importance of the issue and all possible measures were being taken at the government level. He stated that there was a need to create awareness among the masses regarding seriousness of the issue.
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