ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly session begins in Islamabad today at 3PM to discuss and debate upon the current situation in the country.
President Dr Arif Alvi summoned the session of the Lowe House to discuss the economic and health crisis in the country resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri will chair the session as Speaker Asad Qaiser is suffering from the COVID-19 and is currently under quarantine.
All members of Parliament have been instructed to take a coronavirus test before attending the sessions. It later emerged that two members have tested positive for the infection. All members and staff at the Parliament Lodges have thus been ordered to undergo tests a precautionary member.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam, Senators Raja Zafarul Haq, Mushahid Hussain Syed, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Saleem Zia, Abdul Qayum and others tested negative.
President Arif Alvi on Friday visited the National Assembly and directed that social distancing should be maintained during the session for the safety of the parliamentarians and staff against the threat of coronavirus.
The president visited the hall of the National Assembly, reviewed preparations for the session and instructed that members should be asked to follow safety guidelines and sit one seat apart from each other. He expressed satisfaction at the arrangements for the session.
The Deputy Speaker added that the health and safety guidelines against spread of coronavirus would be followed during the session. In line with the recommendations of the committee, additional medical staff would be deployed during the sessions. Special passes would be issued to mediapersons assigned to cover the sessions.
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