COVID-19 and hunger two major challenges: Umar

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar Wednesday said the government was fighting on two fronts, against the COVID-19 and against hunger at the same time.

Addressing a press conference here along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on National Health, Dr Zafar Mirza, Umar said that the government was making all-out efforts to contain the spread of the virus as well as dealing with hunger.

He maintained that the people's health was the top priority of the incumbent government, adding that considering the ground realities, one nationwide decision to combat Covid-19 must be implemented.

The minister said that timely decision of the government to open the construction, horticulture and dry cleaner sectors would help mitigate sufferings of the labour community.

He maintained that the federal government had taken all the decisions regarding the coronavirus keeping in mind the interests of the 220 million people, and facts on the ground were taken into consideration.

He said the government was well aware of the genuine needs of the low-income group and keeping in view the present crisis, there was a dire need to open up construction industry, and other small business sectors.

Outlining the need for a balance between containing the coronavirus from spreading and also ensuring economic activity does not come to a halt, Umar said that it was important to keep in mind those who were facing hardships due to the lockdown.

"We are trying to present the facts in front of you [the masses] with honesty," he said. "We have to take decisions for the betterment of 220 million people," he added.

The minister said that the prime minister was particularly concerned about the street vendors, tailors, workers, labourers and other daily wage earners who were bearing the brunt of the lockdown.

He said that there were concerns among the masses regarding the lockdown but actions had to be taken according to the situation.

"Decisions are being taken keeping in mind the facts on the ground," he said, adding that people should not compare other countries with Pakistan as the situation regarding the coronavirus was different in each country.

Umar said that the basic direction of the country should be the same. He said that the chief ministers of all the provinces and other stakeholders took part in the National Coordination Committee (NCC) meetings and presented their recommendations.

"The direction we take should be the same and decisions should be taken with consultation," he said. "It is my opinion that the provinces and even district administrations should be allowed flexibility to take decisions according to the situation," he added.

The minister said that once the pandemic was over, people could argue with one another about which steps taken by the government were correct, and which were not.

"For the time being, the need of the hour is that we battle this global problem with unity and let me tell you that it is happening to a great extent," he added. Umar said that Rs35 billion had been disbursed among more than 2.8 million people under the Ehsaas Programme.

Speaking on the occasion, the SAPM on National Health said that the situation in Pakistan as compared with the rest of the world was not worsening and so far both coronavirus infections and deaths were even below the estimates of the local authorities.

He once again urged the masses to follow the guidelines developed by the national and global health authorities to cope with the spread of the Covid-19, adding that those guidelines must be implemented across the board by everyone from buyers to businessmen to factory owners to employees.

Dr Mirza said that globally over two million people had been infected with the Covid-19, adding that 127,000 deaths had occurred and 485,000 people had recovered.

Pakistan so far conducted 73,439 tests of which 5,988 were positive including 272 cases in the past 24 hours. He said that so far 107 people in Pakistan had died of the Covid-19, 1,446 had recovered and 46 were in critical condition.