NDMA seeks Rs 5bn grant to cope with coronavirus crisis

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has asked Finance Ministry to release Rs 5 billion as technical supplementary grant to cope with the situation of coronavirus, well informed sources told Business Recorder.
The world has experienced new potent challenge in the shape of coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) and World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared coronavirus as pandemic on March 11, 2020 and has developed the national capacities reviews with the suggested measures at all levels to mitigate the impacts of this infectious disease. Over 157 countries and territories around the world including Pakistan have confirmed infected cases.
The sources said the Prime Minister chaired the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting on March 13, 2020 to review the current status of the threat and country's response to COVID-19 pandemic.
During the meeting, it was decided that NDMA would be the lead operational agency and would coordinate its efforts with the federal and provincial authorities for necessary implementation of the preventive and mitigate actions. In addition, National Coordination Committee (NCC) has been constituted to ensure safety and security of the people of Pakistan in view of the spreading COVID-19. NDMA is member of the NCC and will be required to implement its relevant decisions including provision of logistic support.
In view of the enhanced requirements of different personal protection equipment against the virus like respirators/face masks etc which certain elements/profiteers are trying to hoard.
NDMA shall ensure availability of logistic requirements to the administrative/technical medical agencies and general public for response measures. In this regard NDMA in consultation with provincial governments and federal agencies has worked out a national requirement of the necessary equipment to undertake prevention and response measures for likely projected scenario including 40 per cent of provincial demand.
The total estimated cost of the necessary equipment and preventive measure during initial phase of natural response is approximately Rs 19.62 billion. Availability of resources for swift response is of paramount importance during the spread of a pandemic. Therefore, NDMA has proposed that at least 25 percent-30 percent of the total national requirement i.e. Rs 5 billion may immediately be placed at its disposal. For this purpose, Finance Division (budget wing) has already surrendered Rs 5 billion to NDMA for necessary arrangement to control coronavirus in Pakistan for the CFY 2019-20.