Opposition parties call for monitoring of coronavirus relief fund

PML-N, PPP and other parties demand formation of parliamentary body to ensure fair distribution

LAHORE: The opposition parties on Tuesday demanded the formation of a joint parliamentary committee to monitor the federal government’s coronavirus relief fund and ensure its fair and transparent distribution.

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, spoke on the phone with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, JI Ameer Sirajul Haq, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party head Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao of the Qaumi Watan Party and National Party’s Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo.

In a charter of demands, the opposition leaders called for forming a parliamentary committee for monitoring how and where the fund was being spent, the quality of ration for labourers, daily-wage workers and other vulnerable segments of society and the mechanism for its distribution.

They also stressed the need to ensure that the government did not use the money being donated to the fund for political gains.

The opposition parties demanded that a meeting of the Senate and National Assembly standing committees on health

Pakistan Army departments donate salaries in COVID-19 relief fund

be convened immediately to brief the parliamentarians on the coronavirus situation and the government’s strategy against it.

They also demanded that coronavirus testing should be carried out free of charge at government hospitals and the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council be restored.

Doctors and paramedics should be provided with protective gear as soon as possible. The availability of ventilators at hospitals must be ensured as well.

The opposition parties further demanded that a surveillance system be set up to gather accurate data on the virus situation to keep the public informed. They also stressed the need for an awareness campaign through the media.

The opposition leaders rejected the prime minister’s ‘Corona Relief Tiger Force’ comprising young volunteers, maintaining that it was not more than a political stunt.

They maintained that there was no use for such a force in the presence of law enforcement agencies, paramilitary Rangers and army troops.

They said the government should restore local governments instead of wasting time and money on the tiger force.



A day earlier, the prime minister had announced the creation of a relief fund where people could donate money without declaring their source of income, and the formation of a ‘Tiger Force’ to provide food to the downtrodden people if a total lockdown was imposed in the country.

In a televised address to the nation, the prime minister assured the nation that with “faith, youth and wisdom” Pakistan could defeat coronavirus. He warned that those, who did not adopt social distancing could jeopardise the lives of others.

“Today I am announcing the Coronavirus Relief Fund,” Imran said in his address. “No questions will be asked from anyone who deposits money in the account that will be opened from April 1 at the National Bank of Pakistan,” he added.