Prime Minister Imran Khan has stated that situation in Pakistan is not as bad in terms of the Covid-19 as in other countries especially Western countries and the number of cases in Pakistan is far less as compared to the projection for April 30, 2020.
While taking the nation into confidence on current Covid-19 situation in the country on Thursday, the prime minister said that at one point in time we were thinking that hospitals would be full by end of April, and there would be shortage of ventilators and pressure on hospitals.
He said that Iran was worst-affected country in the region, and despite that the Government of Iran had decided to operationalise all other business activities except places of big gatherings and schools and universities, and even Egypt had opened economic activates for the labour.
He said the Egyptian economic situation was no different from Pakistan.
The prime minister added that the government fully realised that the lockdown would affect the daily wagers most, and for low-income group a cash programme was prepared, and amount was distributed without any political discrimination, and Sindh province got the highest share in the Ehsaas programme.
He said so far Rs 81 billion had been disbursed among 6.6 million people through cash transfer under Ehsaas programme.
The Prime Minister's Relief Fund is also being made operational for those who have lost jobs due to coronavirus, and modalities were being worked out to ensure that money was transferred to actual persons losing jobs.
Tiger Force has been asked to establish desks at UC-level, and search for those who have been affected from coronavirus.
Asad Umar, Minister for Planning and Development, stated that the impact of virus in Pakistan was different from Western countries so far in deaths and cases, but bad news is that deaths would increase in days ahead but good news is that the situation would not be as bad as in other countries.
Asad Umar said that there would be 30 to 35 percent decline in revenue in post-Covid situation in the current fiscal year, and middle class and poor had been affected badly and the prime minister had been requested to convene NCC meeting on Monday or Tuesday. He requested that if the people would follow the instructions regarding precautionary measures, the situation would improve soon and people would have employment opportunities.
Dr Faisal gave an overview of coronavirus situation after analysing data of other countries and assessing situation within the country.
He said, it can be safely assumed that situation in Pakistan is not as bad but this does not mean to give up precaution because success of future strategy heavily rest on what would people's response be.
Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza gave an overview of the cases in Pakistan as well as deaths and those who have recovered.
He said that the PPE are now available in the country, other than N-95 all the equipments are being locally produced.
Dr Sania Nishtar, chairperson BISP, said today cash disbursement is being made from last 22 days and all the details of cash disbursement and beneficiaries are available on the portal for transparency, and these details have been put on the web portal from 10 days ago and are being updated regularly.
She said, so far 6.6 million families have been provided cash with total disbursement of Rs81 billion.
The prime minister asked Hammad Azhar, Minister for Industries to explain about SMEs and stated that Rs50 billion has been earmarked for the SMEs for payments of electricity and 3.5 million would benefit from it.
The Prime Minister's Corona Relief Fund is being used for those who have been laid off or daily wagers who lost jobs due to the situation.
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