Pakistan’s COVID-19 situation different from Wuhan, Europe: PM Imran

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has reiterated that he would not impose a complete COVID-19 lockdown, as Pakistan’s circumstances were different from Wuhan city and Europe.

PM Khan was addressing an event marking the commencement of three Ehsaas Programme initiatives, including Ehsaas Rashan Portal, Ehsaas Langar, and Panagah App and PM’s COVID Relief Fund website in Islamabad today (Monday).

PM Imran pointed out the COVID-19 impacts on the country’s economy and said that he had not been in favour of imposing a lockdown as Indian Prime Minister had done. “34percent of the people in India were facing hunger and extreme poverty according to research,” he asserted.   

Quoting the example of the United States, PM Imran said that long queues of people could be seen in America asking for food and charity. “So it had to happen in our country too,” he said. He further said that while imposing a lockdown, the country should think about the effects the decisions will have on the masses.

However, he said, everyone was panicked. “Countries were looking at Europe and Wuhan city, which were facing different situations. Our situation was totally different,” he added.

Referring to the initiatives, PM Imran said that the PTI-led federal government will increase shelter homes in Pakistan in order to provide relief to the poor segment of the society.

The premier insisted that the people of Pakistan are charitable and passionate in their desire to give. “People have started sending food themselves in shelter homes,” he added. He also assured that transparency will be ensured in the relief and Ehsaas programmes.

The Prime Minister also praised Dr. Sania Nishtar and her team for providing billions of rupees to people in a short span of time. He also said, “The Prime Minister’s Relief Fund will be used to provide relief to people who had been unemployed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” adding that the government will add to each donation to ensure maximum relief reaches the masses.”