Lockdown extended for two more weeks

Islamabad: Easing restrictions for various low-risk industries and sectors, including construction, chemical manufacturing, fertilizers, mining, glass manufacturing and some others, Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday said it was decided to extend the ongoing countrywide lockdown for another two weeks.

The prime minister, in a televised media-briefing about various decisions taken during the National Coordination Committee (NCC), said the decision to extend the lockdown, which was aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19, was taken with consensus and in consultation with all the provinces.

He, however, added that keeping in view the hardships and unemployment faced by daily-wagers and small businesses due to the lockdown, it was decided to open the construction industry and other low-risk sectors.
The prime minister was flanked by Minister for Planning Asad Umar, Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar and Special Assistant to the PM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, SAPM on National Security Moeed Yousaf and SAPM on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan.

He said the government, through an ordinance to be issued on Wednesday, would also announce a historic stimulus incentives package for the promotion of construction industry and creation of job opportunities in the country.

The prime minister referred to the issue of undue price-hike of essential food items caused by smuggling and hoarding, and said the government in order to check the illegal acts would also introduce an ordinance in a day or two.
Under the proposed ordinance, he said, the people involved in smuggling and hoarding of essential and basic food commodities, including wheat, would be dealt with sternly.

The prime minister warned that the government, in order to save the masses from undue price-hike caused by hoarding of commodities particularly in the holy month of Ramazan, would not only take action against the managers involved in hoarding but would also catch the owners.

He said as the holy month of Ramadan was round the corner, he would soon hold a meeting with Ulema and religious scholars of different schools of thought to reach a consensus and have a national response on how to continue with religious activities and create a balance during the holy month in the wake of threat posed by COVID-19.
The prime minister said with the wheat being harvested across the country, there was no restriction on agricultural activities in the rural areas.

He said all the decisions in the NCC meeting today were taken with almost consensus (98% consensus), except difference of views on some matters. The provinces, however, after the 18th Constitutional Amendment had the powers to take decisions according to their requirements, without any interference from the Federal Government.
Imran Khan said with the blessings of Allah Almighty and the preventive measures, including the lockdown, taken in the wake of coronavirus outbreak hitting the whole world badly, Pakistan with having just 30 percent of COVID-19 projected cases, so far had a very low mortality rate.

He said Pakistan in the current situation had enough capacity, including healthcare facilities, personal protection equipment, ventilators etc. to tackle the challenge. However, if there was any spike in the corona cases, the healthcare system would not be able to handle the situation.
Noting the facts with pleasure and terming the low rate of mortality with less than projected cases as a good news, the prime minister, however, cautioned that the people must continue to take preventive measures against the COVID-19.

He said Pakistan was fighting a war on two fronts, one against the COVID-19 and the other against poverty and unemployment caused by the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the contagion.
Imran Khan in that respect also referred to the allocation of just around $8 billion for the corona relief package by Pakistan as against the huge sums earmarked by the developed and rich nations, including $2,000 billion by the United States, $1000 $ by Japan etc.
He said the distribution of Rs 1,2000 among the 12 million poorest of the poor and deserving families under the historic and unprecedented Rs 144 billion Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme indicated the government’s concerns about the poor and daily-wagers affected by the lockdown.

The prime minister said he was proud to claim that the Emergency Cash Programme was apolitical and transparent, as the process of selection of the people eligible for emergency cash assistance was fully automated and did not involve any human interaction.
He said 2.8 million families had so far received Rs 12,000 each under the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme.
Prime Minister Imran Khan said since the poor people, including daily-wagers, were facing difficulties due to the lockdown and coronavirus, it was the state’s responsibility to reach them and take care of them.
However, against the Western countries where 90 to 99% daily-wagers and workers were registered under the social security systems and could be easily reached in case of emergency and unemployment, he said, 75% of daily-wagers in Pakistan were not registered.
That was why, he added, the government initiated the Emergency Cash Programme. Since such cash could not cater to the full needs of the labourers for a long period, the government decided to open the low-risk industries, including the construction, in phases but with some SOPs so that the people got back to their work with preventive measures, the prime minister said.

Imran Khan also mentioned with pleasure that around one million people had so far got themselves registered with the PM Corona Relief Tiger Force, which he had announced earlier. They would help identify and reach out to the poor and deserving for the distribution of emergency cash.
The prime minister said modalities were also being discussed and finalized to bring back the Pakistanis stranded abroad in transits or lockdowns due to the outbreak of COVOID-19.

He said since the people travelling back home from abroad, including the Zaireens (pilgrims), initially brought the coronavirus to Pakistan, the government in coordination with the provinces was making arrangements such as testing and quarantine facilities before bringing them back to the country.