NCC takes key decisions to implement PM's assistance programme

The National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Thursday took key decisions for implementing the prime minister's economic assistance programme.
The federal government as well as the provinces also agreed on relaxing the transport lockdown in order to ease the supply of essential commodities in various parts of the country.
The chief ministers of four provinces have agreed to hold an exclusive meeting to finalize the modalities to end the transportation lockdown on Friday (today), said Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar.
He said that the government had decided to close the educational institutions till May 31 instead of April 5.
This decision has been taken by the Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood in consultation with the provincial governments.
Umar was giving a daily media briefing on coronavirus update along with Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri, Special Assistant on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, and Chairman NDMA Lt Gen. Muhammad Afzal in Islamabad on Thursday.
Planning Minister Asad Umar further said that the national strategy was being fully implemented to cope with the threat of coronavirus pandemic.
He assured that there was no shortage of wheat in the country and ample stocks of flour existed.
He said that the prime minister had made it categorically clear that strict action would be taken against profiteers and hoarders who would try to get benefit of this grave situation.
He said that from now onwards, the provincial and federal government representatives would work together in national command center to fight coronavirus.
He further said that the prime minister would also announce a strategy to mobilize the volunteers for relief work.
The Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Pir Noorul Haq Qadri said that the Saudi government had asked Pakistani government not to sign any agreement with regard to the arrangements of upcoming Hajj. He however said that the Saudi government had also conveyed Pakistan that a decision on permitting pilgrims for Haj would be taken shortly.
He further said that mosques in Pakistan won't be shut down; however, the mosques' administrations and a limited number of people would offer group prayers including the Friday prayers.
He however made it clear that only adults and citizens below the age of 50 would be allowed to offer Jumma prayer or collective prayers in mosques.
The minister said that the decision to this regard was made in the fifth meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) for COVID-19 held in Islamabad on Thursday with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair to discuss the situation arising out of coronavirus as well as the steps taken so far to curtail its spread.
Noorul Haq Qadri said that all decisions were made in the NCC meeting in the light of decrees issued by ulema belonging to various schools of thought.
The Minister for Religious Affairs said that all classes, examinations and programs have been postponed in Madaris (religious seminaries) in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.
He asked ulema to instruct the people to offer prayers at home.
Speaking on the occasion, Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said that at present the total number of coronavirus affected persons in Pakistan was 1,102 out of which 21 had fully recovered.
He said that a very small number of coronavirus patients were in critical condition as condition of majority of them was stable.
He said that so far eight deaths had been reported throughout the country because of the virus.
He further said that essential medical supplies to the country were in the pipeline and the situation would remarkably improve regarding their availability by 5th of next month.
The chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt General Muhammad Afzal said that the number of beds at intensive care units (ICUs) had crossed 19,000, while nearly 30,000 medical staff were working at ICUs for whom safety kits would be arranged by April 5.
Lt General Muhammad Afzal said that right now, there were 154,000 medical staff members in Pakistan.
He further said that the number of ventilators was 2,000 out of which 450 were out of order.
He said that a good number of those ventilators had been repaired.
Moreover, by April 10 to 15, the number of imported ventilators will reach 1,000 and by the end of the next month it will be around 3,000.
Furthermore, he said that the process of disinfecting coronavirus-affected areas will be initiated from Bhara Kahu on Friday.
He said that those areas wherein a substantial number of cases had been detected would be disinfected with chemicals.