ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced to set up a ‘Corona Tigers Relief Force’ which will enlist youth volunteers from across Pakistan to help fight against coronavirus as government was preparing for worst scenario.
Talking to journalists in Islamabad today (Friday), PM Imran said that Pakistan consists of large youth population and those were country’s assets, adding that the government needs youngsters in fight against coronavirus.
Commenting on the enrollment of the youth force, PM Imran said that recruitment for corona relief tigers will formally begin on March 31.
Comparing Pakistan and China, PM Imran said that China delivered food to its people’s home amid lockdown and Pakistan doesn’t have any such infrastructure, for this, the government has decided to launch youth force that will deliver food and other necessities to people.
Referring to the outbreak of the virus in Pakistan, PM Imran said that coronavirus had not spread as widely in Pakistan as compared to other countries, however, there was no guarantee that cases would not rise in Pakistan in coming weeks.
PM Imran further said that he would announce ‘Prime Minister’s Corona Fund’ next week to provide money to labourers and daily wagers so they could buy food for their families.
The prime minister termed the coronavirus situation as ‘unprecedented’ and said that such crisis had never taken place before and that’s the reason it took time for the national response.
PM Imran Khan also denied the rumours of food shortage in the country and said that the problem was raised because of the restriction of goods transport in provinces and the people started hoarding foodstuffs amid panic.
He also announced that all the provinces will not impose restrictions on inter-provincial transport of goods, adding that the federal government was trying to work out a mechanism to keep the essential industries running while minimising the risk of spreading the virus.
He also acknowledged that Pakistan will see a drop in remittances and foreign exchange reserves will be impacted amid coronavirus.
In this regard, he announced that he would open an account in State Bank of Pakistan, for which details will be provided on Monday or Tuesday.
“Right now, the Pakistani people are most in need of donations from abroad. I want overseas Pakistanis to deposit their money here so pressure from our foreign exchange reserves is relieved,” said the prime minister.
Commenting on lockdown, Prime Minister reiterated that total lockdown is not feasible keeping in view the condition of poor people in the country.
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