Governors back idea of smart lockdown

President Alvi calls for enhancing coordination between provinces and Centre to effectively combat COVID-19

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday chaired a consultative conference with all provincial governors and the president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to seek their cooperation and suggestions on meeting the challenge of Covid-19 pandemic.

AJK President Masood Khan, Punjab Governor Chaudhary Sarwar, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Balochistan Governor Amanullah Yasinzai, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Governor Shah Farman, Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon and State Minister for Health Dr Zafar Mirza attended the meeting.

The participants of the meeting briefed the president about the pandemic situation in their areas and appreciated the measures taken by the federal government in the fight against Covid-19. They also expressed satisfaction over the level of cooperation on medical equipment and financial assistance under the Ehsas Programme.

The president advised the governors to enhance coordination between the provinces and the federal government to effectively combat the disease. The meeting supported the idea of “smart lockdown” that allowed only essential industries, like healthcare, food and energy to operate.

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The meeting appreciated the prime minister’s statement on the need for debt relief and expressed satisfaction over the situation of crops in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as both the provinces had benefited from good rains this year.

The meeting lauded the services of healthcare workers and others in providing essential services. They also appreciated cooperation of Ulema and the people in complying with the health guidelines provided by the government in view of corona pandemic.

The meeting adopted a unanimous resolution, condemning the shelling of Indian forces on the Line of Control and denying access to medical facilities to the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir, while using corona pandemic as an excuse to further prolong the lockdown.