Ag APP
LAHORE: Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Saturday it was not right rime for political altercations among the political parties, as a unified response was required to deal with the dreaded coronavirus pandemic in the country.
In a media interaction during a visit to a quarantine centre at Jinnah Hospital Lahore, she said “we are not only faced with corona crisis but also hunger” as a large majority of Pakistan’s population was living below the poverty line already.
About the opposition’s role in the current crisis, she stressed the need for political harmony in the country, adding that all political parties should work together to curb the deadly virus rather than remaining divided over petty issues.
She said that coronavirus did not differentiate between political parties and workers; that is why all should put up unified efforts against coronavirus.
About the tiger force, she said it is volunteer force which is a necessity against a treacherous enemy like the coronavirus, adding that the tiger force was needed to ensure delivery of ration at the doorsteps of the needy as the situation was different from a flood or earthquake where people-to-people contact was not prohibited.
She said the government would open the essential industries in phases to ensure that food-supply chain was not affected in the country.
“The government was in consultation with the industry to chalk out Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) regarding health and hygiene of the workers before granting permission,” she said.
To a question, Dr Firdous said the government had lifted ban on the goods transport for maintaining uninterrupted food supply, adding that the permission for wheat reaping and the allied industry was part of government’s efforts to save the country from impending economic challenges.
About the construction industry, she said the grant of status of industry to the construction sector was a decision aimed at providing jobs to the unemployed labour in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, adding that the government had allocated Rs280 billion for procurement of 8.2-million-ton wheat in the country to spearhead economic activity.
To a query, Dr Firdous said she had visited the hospital on the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan to show solidarity with the doctors, paramedics and other staff who were the first line of defence against coronavirus outbreak in the country, adding that the whole nation was thankful to doctors and paramedical staff.
“I’ve come to thank my medical community,” she added.
To a question, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that no world economy had any idea that the impact of Covid-19 would be so devastating, adding that even the developed economies of the world had failed to foresee the coronavirus challenge.
She said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had introduced an incremental lockdown while ensuring an uninterrupted food-supply chain, creation of a volunteer force and adoption of a mechanism in this regard.
About non-payment of wages to workers during the lockdown, the special assistant said that the government was preparing database of the businesses which had not paid to their workers during the 14 days of the lockdown, adding that PM Imran Khan had held meetings with office-bearers of chambers of commerce and mill-owners across the country and the government would pay salaries to workers who were left jobless and it had earmarked 200 billion rupees for the purpose.
She said that 16 million had so far registered for financial support from PM’s Ehsaas Programme, adding that data of 10 million applicants had been verified and they would be transferred 12,000 rupees each from April 5 (Monday) while the rest of 6 million would get the financial support after due process.
“This is unprecedented in the country’s history that a poor person would get Rs12,000,” she said adding that the federal government had set aside Rs150 billion for Ehsaas Programme, adding that the Rs10 billion financial package by the Punjab government was in addition to it.
To a question, she urged philanthropists to deposit contribution to Prime Minister’s Corona Welfare Relief Fund, adding that all the wealthy and affluent should come forward and provide for the needs of the needy during the lockdown.
Dr Firdous also hailed the services of Chairman Board of Management (BoM) Jinnah Hospital Gohar Ijaz over his services during the Covid-19 challenge, adding that he had expressed the wish to provide ration to the needy in the whole of Lahore.
Earlier, she visited the quarantine centre and PCR (bio-safety) laboratory at the Jinnah Hospital.
Meanwhile, talking to a private news channel, she criticised the opposition parties for doing politics over corona crisis. She denied that National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) was not cooperating with the provincial governments. She said if any provincial government needed data about the poor sections of the country, it could request the National Ehsaas Programme.
She said the daily wagers and families of low income would be registered and provided cash through Ehsaas programme.