Pakistan’s virus situation much better than other countries: PM Imran

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that Pakistan’s situation in terms of coronavirus was much better than the other countries.

Addressing the nation regarding coronavirus in Islamabad today (Thursday), PM Imran informed that the coronavirus death rate in Pakistan was lowered than feared.

The Prime Minister further said that that he had thought that country’s intensive care units (ICUs) would be filled by now but that was not the case.

Citing examples of Egypt, PM Imran said that he spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on coronavirus situation.

PM Imran said, “The Cairo leadership decided on the first day to lockdown large gatherings but they tried to make sure the construction sector remained working”.

“The Cairo Leadership knew that daily wagers, labourers, waiters, and taxi drivers will be the worst-affected of all,” PM Imran added.

Commenting on a new programme, PM Imran announced that the government has started working on a new programme for the unemployed people.

The premier also informed that the Corona Relief Tigers Force had been informed to set up a desk in each union council to check who has been unemployed.

In this regard, the premier said that the government would contribute Rs4 for every Rs1 that people donate to the premier’s corona relief fund.

PM Imran added that the fund would be used to help those who have lost their jobs due to the lockdowns enforced to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

He added that this programme would be in addition to the Ehsaas cash disbursement programme, which has already helped labourers and daily-wage workers in the country.

Referring to overseas Pakistanis, the Prime Minister noted that the overseas Pakistanis were the country’s biggest asset. “It is our responsibility to take care of them and I have instructed our embassies in this regard,” PM Imran added.