Virus spread, unemployment major challenges: PM

Terming COVID-19 pandemic as a test and difficult situation for the nation, Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed optimism that Pakistan would come out of this situation successfully with the nation's resolve and discipline.
"Despite many challenges to Pakistan from the coronavirus outbreak, it can emerge as a stronger nation and become the truly welfare state it was envisioned to be. When we will emerge from this, we will be a totally different nation," the premier said while addressing a ceremony of ration-distribution and relief fund at Governor's House on Saturday.
The premier said the situation is more difficult due to the fact that no one across the world has the experience to cope with it. "Even the developed countries of the world with ample resources are not able to easily defeat it," he said, adding: "The US government gave a relief package of 2000 billion dollars to stimulate its economy in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, but they are still struggling."
The premier said our government gave a relief package worth 8 billion dollars according to our resources which is the biggest in our history. He said this package will be further enhanced when more resources will become available. "We are facing the dual challenge of spread of coronavirus and unemployment due to the lockdown," he said.
The PM said 50 to 60 million people in the country live under the poverty line and are suffering due to lockdown but we have lifted restriction of lockdown on construction and agricultural sectors in order to enable people to be gainfully employed and earn their livelihood.
The PM disclosed that more than six hundred thousand youth have joined corona relief tiger force that will play a crucial role in ration distribution to people and also disseminate necessary information. He said transparency and merit will be strictly observed in distribution of cash among the needy persons. He said Facebook page of the Ehsaas program will be launched next week, detailing the data of areas where people most need the rations.
The premier said the government is keeping an eye on the situation round the clock and every day the situation is discussed. He expressed gratitude to philanthropists who contributed to help lift the nation during this crisis. He said businessmen face greater losses not when there are hard times, but when in those times he tries to take "shortcuts" or commits fraud.
"Those who are patient go far in life. Those who throw their hands in the air and give up. They rank among the many who fail. Our challenge right now is to take care of them, so we have opened the construction industry."
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan visited a quarantine facility set up at Expo Center which has the capacity of about 1,000 persons. The premier visited different sections of the facility and was briefed by Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid.
The PM on the occasion praised the Punjab government for making a field hospital in Lahore Expo center in a record nine days. The PM also visited diagnostic counters, rescue, command and control room, ambulance and other facilities.
The PM was informed that the hospital carries all necessary facilities and highlighted the joint efforts of health department, district administration, Rescue 1122 and other departments.
When Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived here, he was accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, Special Assistants to PM Dr Sania Nishtar, Shahzad Akbar and Usman Dar.