Asad urges joint efforts to deal with natural disasters

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umer has said there is a need to work together to deal with natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes and coronavirus, adding all institutions including media, judiciary, scholars, doctors, nurses, paramedical staff played a vital role during the pandemic.

The minister was addressing online in the inaugural session of the two-day national conference on ‘Challenges of Governance in Pakistan Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic’ organised by Punjab University’s Department of Political Science.

Ambassador of China to Pakistan Nong Rong attended the session online, while PU VC Prof Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, former caretaker CM Prof Dr Hassan Askari, Founding Director Centre for Public Policy and Governance FC College Lahore Dr Saeed Shafqat, Dean Faculty Behavioral and Social Sciences Prof Dr Umbreen Javed, Chairperson Department of Political Science Prof Dr Iram Khalid, researchers, senior faculty members and a large number of students participated in the conference.

In his address, Asad Umer said during Covid-19, the government faced twin challenges of saving the economy along with the health of people, due to which the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) and National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) were set up to combat and convey the truth to the people.

He said the government and the military leadership together in the NCOC made the best decisions in the national interest. He said the NCOC decided on lockdown, hotspot lockdown and smart lockdown based on daily data so that people’s health and economic condition could be improved. He said he made all the decisions keeping in view the situation of his country after learning from other countries. He said that keeping in view the lack of resources and poor health facilities to deal with the epidemic, the government has increased the facilities at hospitals.

He said China supported Pakistan in difficult time. He said through artificial intelligence, the government was formulating a strategy for the future so that an effective and integrated strategy could be formulated to tackle challenges like corona.

Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong said since the onset of the corona epidemic, the Chinese government has mobilised its people under the best possible strategy and provided awareness to meet this challenge.

He said scientific research and medical training were promoted on priority. He said to curb the spread of corona an effective smart lockdown was implemented across the country. He said that the Chinese government, realising its global responsibilities, had supplied 450 million doses of vaccines to various countries and provided other medical supplies in large quantities. Nong Rong praised the successful strategy of the government and the NCOC against corona, saying that effective planning in Pakistan not only prevented the spread of pandemic but also maintained its socio-economic stability.

PU VC Prof Niaz Ahmed said steps taken by the government to curb the spread of corona and to improve the economy are commendable. Dr Hassan Askari said last year was a year of immense learning in human history. He said such challenges may be faced in future for which permanent planning is required. Dr Saeed said the issue of governance during the pandemic was faced globally. He said corona has had economic, political, social and cultural implications. Dr Umbreen Javed and Dr Iram also addressed the moot.