Shehbaz urges Imran to call CCI meeting on Covid-19

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif Tuesday suggested the incumbent government to cut down the interest rate by three to four percent, double the salaries of doctors, nurses and paramedics, airlift medical equipment, including ventilators, diagnostic kits for testing virus and protective kits for health professionals apart from extending maximum relief to the people through cut in oil prices by Rs 70 per litre and extend scope of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to 3-4 million needy families.
Addressing a news conference through video link on Tuesday, Shehbaz also urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to call a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) to address the current coronavirus outbreak with consensus of all the four provincial chief ministers. He also demanded representation to all the political parties in national task force to address the challenge.
He was of the view that through cut in the interest rate by three to four per cent, there would be saving of 80 billion of rupees in debt servicing and this amount can be used for meeting emergency requirements in health sector and providing relief to the needy. He was of the view that substantial cut in oil prices would bring down inflation which would provide ease to the people.
The PML-N President was of the view that bringing politics into the equation, while the country deals with a coronavirus outbreak would be a sin. "Everybody has to play their due role in ensuring the nation can combat the virus; the time is ripe to convert this challenge into opportunity so that by becoming a nation, we stand united in defeating this virus," he said. "Keeping politics aside, we will have to praise the good initiatives take by the government and offer them constructive criticism where we can; otherwise, I will be failing in my duties."
Regarding Taftan debacle, Shehbaz said, "If the federal government had ensured proper protocol and arrangements at the Pakistan-Iran border in Taftan, the country's Covid-19 outbreak would never have accelerated to this degree. "It is unfortunate that this happened, it is necessary to move forward towards a solution," he said.
Shehbaz announced that the party will donate 10,000 protective kits, approved by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan to the country's medical association. "We need to give our medical professionals a sense of safety as they treat coronavirus patients," he said.
He said that he held consultations with leaders of opposition parties and decided to call an APC. He added that he has also called meeting of PML-N MNA, MPAs, ticket-holders and office-bearers on Wednesday to evolve strategy to play role in this difficult time.
Shehbaz's offer lauded
Meanwhile a report adds from Islamabad: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Punjab government on Tuesday welcomed Shehbaz Sharif's offer to use the hospitals owned by Sharif family for coronavirus patients, saying all political parties should rise above politics to tackle the pandemic.
Talking to Business Recorder, the PTI Punjab President, Ejaz Chaudhry, said that Sharif's decision to return to the country in this hour of need was appreciated and the opposition leader should play his constructive role and not indulge in political point scoring.
He said that Provincial Minister for Information Fayazul Hassan Chohan had already appreciated Sharif's decision on behalf of the PTI, the Punjab government and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, which shows we want all the parties to play their role.
Chaudhry said that the PTI had decided to keep aside its political differences and work together to fight the coronavirus threat and hoped that there would be no political point scoring after Sharif's return to the country.
"Shehbaz Sharif and his party should come forward and play a role to combat the virus and put forth their suggestions, which would be given due importance as this is time to think about the country," he added.
The Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, soon after his return to the country, offered the services of hospitals being run by the Sharif Group to the government to establish quarantine facilities for coronavirus patients.