Imran says policies being devised to meet needs of poor, weak segments of society. PHOTO: FILE
PM Imran vows strong Covid-19 Ramazan strategy
Imran Khan says policies being devised to meet needs of poor, weak segments of society
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed his cabinet members to formulate strategies according to the situating arising from the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in the country and the needs of the people in the coming days of Ramazan.
“In the past, policies were devised based on the needs and interests of the elite, but now in order to meet the challenge arising from the contagion, strategies are being formulated keeping in mind the needs of all classes, particularly the poor and the weak,” Premier Imran said while chairing a meeting to review the Covid-19 situation in the country on Monday.
Federal ministers Hammad Azhar, Asad Umar, Khusro Bakhtiar, Fakhar Imam and Umar Ayub, Special Assistant to the PM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, Dr Moeed Yusuf and others were in attendance.
The prime minister termed maintaining social distancing a joint responsibility of every citizen to stem the spread of the virus. “We have to maintain balance between containing the pandemic and keeping the wheels of economy turning.”
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The de facto health minister, Mirza, gave a briefing on the current Covid-19 situation, the rising number of cases, patients recovered and the ones who lost their lives.
“The number of coronavirus patients in the country and the deaths thereof are far lesser than in other countries,” Mirza informed the meeting.
Federal Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar apprised the meeting of the steps being taken to reopen steel and other industries in the second phase of the measures agreed upon for the revival of construction sector.
Giving a briefing on the Rs75 billion package for the workers and labourers, Azhar said, “With the cooperation of the Ministry of Industries and the Ehsaas programme, the package will benefit four-six million people.”
He announced that the government would pay three-month electricity bills of small businesses.
The National Disaster Management Authority chairman briefed the meeting about the availability of testing kits, personal protective equipment, N95 masks, ventilators and other apparatus necessary to combat the pandemic
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