PM Imran warns of taking strict action against coronavirus SOPs violators
I will personally monitor implementation of SOPs and receive daily report from the provinces, says Imran Khan
Prime Minister Imran Khan. SCREENGRAB
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Imran Khan has warned the people and and business community of taking a strict action for violating the standard operations procedures (SOPs) issued by the government to stem the spread of Covid-19.
“So far we have shown much leniency. But now onwards we will take strict action through administration and the violators will have to face closure,” he said on Thursday while addressing the nation following high-level meeting on Covid-19 outbreak as nationwide tally has crossed crossed 123,000 mark with more than 2,400 deaths so far.
The prime minister said he would personally monitor the implementation of the SOPs and receive daily report from the provinces on coronavirus situation.
He said the district administrations as well as the Corona Relief Tiger Force would observe and report the status of SOPs’ implementation at shops, shopping malls, mosques, katcheries (courts) and public transport.
The prime minister said all the workplaces or localities would be closed down if found spreading the deadly virus risking the people’s lives.
The announcement came after a sharp rise in the coronavirus cases and fatalities following the government's decision to relaxed the countrywide lockdown ahead of Eidul Fitr.
"We knew that the [Covid-19] deaths and cases would increase after we relaxed the lockdown but fortunately, the situation is still far better than other countries," he said adding that majority of the people who died were old-age or had underlying health issues.
The prime minister said the government would announce a special package for the healthcare workers keeping in view the immense stress they were undergoing in the prevailing situation.
He said the government would deploy data managers at the hospitals to report the status of facilities there to help it make the decisions accordingly.
Taking a jibe at his opponents, the premier said from the opposition leaders’ statements using the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity for political point scoring and to weaken the government.
"They [opposition parties] wanted more deaths and cases to increase difficulties for the government and destabilise the economy," he said.
Referring to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Shehbaz Sharif without naming him, the prime minister said the opposition desired to conceal its corruption by pressuring the government in the prevailing situation as they had also done in the case of Kashmir issue.
PM Imran appreciated his team for making right analysis and projections after consultations with the provinces and medical experts, without succumbing to any pressure.
He said due to the government’s timely measures, including the distribution of around Rs120 billion among 12 million families, Pakistan had averted the tough situation contrary to other countries, particularly India.
Coronavirus cases to peak in Pakistan by end of July or August: PM Imran
He said the poor people became the foremost casualty of the lockdown as the government had to simultaneously protect the people from the virus and poverty.
Apprising the nation of the consequences of strict lockdown in India, the prime minister quoted a survey that 84 per cent of Indian households faced economic loss, 34% would be unable to survive for more than a week without assistance and around 30 million youth had lost jobs.
“We would also have faced similar circumstances. But we survived, because we had not imposed a strict lockdown, rather we opened the construction industry and gave away Rs 120 billion to the 12 million people,” he stated.
He said despite the strict lockdown, the coronavirus cases were fast increasing in India and their hospitals were also under immense pressure.
Reiterating his call for adhering to the precautions, the prime minister said only the nations, which would follow the guidelines, could avert tough times.
Imran Khan said from the very first day, he had been advocating for a smart lockdown as only and effective solution which was also being acknowledged by the world.
He said unfortunately, the country’s elite had ignored the health sector during the last 60 years.
He said the implementation of the SOPs was essential to save the lives of particularly the vulnerable groups like the patients of the blood pressure, diabetes or the old aged people.
Highlighting the government’s measures in anti-Covid operations, the prime minister said the number of testing laboratories had been increased from two to 107, testing capacity increased up to 1.2 million a month, and ventilators from 2,800 to 4,800 while 1,400 more were in pipeline.
Moreover, he said, the number of ICU (intensive care unit) beds had been increased from 600 to 1300 and the government would add 1,000 oxygen beds by June and as many a month later.
The prime minister said it was unfortunate to see the people ignoring the SOPs and believing in conspiracy theories regarding the pandemic, which would do nothing but spread the infections.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has warned the people and and business community of taking a strict action for violating the standard operations procedures (SOPs) issued by the government to stem the spread of Covid-19.
“So far we have shown much leniency. But now onwards we will take strict action through administration and the violators will have to face closure,” he said on Thursday while addressing the nation following high-level meeting on Covid-19 outbreak as nationwide tally has crossed crossed 123,000 mark with more than 2,400 deaths so far.
The prime minister said he would personally monitor the implementation of the SOPs and receive daily report from the provinces on coronavirus situation.
He said the district administrations as well as the Corona Relief Tiger Force would observe and report the status of SOPs’ implementation at shops, shopping malls, mosques, katcheries (courts) and public transport.
The prime minister said all the workplaces or localities would be closed down if found spreading the deadly virus risking the people’s lives.
The announcement came after a sharp rise in the coronavirus cases and fatalities following the government's decision to relaxed the countrywide lockdown ahead of Eidul Fitr.
"We knew that the [Covid-19] deaths and cases would increase after we relaxed the lockdown but fortunately, the situation is still far better than other countries," he said adding that majority of the people who died were old-age or had underlying health issues.
The prime minister said the government would announce a special package for the healthcare workers keeping in view the immense stress they were undergoing in the prevailing situation.
He said the government would deploy data managers at the hospitals to report the status of facilities there to help it make the decisions accordingly.
Taking a jibe at his opponents, the premier said from the opposition leaders’ statements using the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity for political point scoring and to weaken the government.
"They [opposition parties] wanted more deaths and cases to increase difficulties for the government and destabilise the economy," he said.
Referring to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Shehbaz Sharif without naming him, the prime minister said the opposition desired to conceal its corruption by pressuring the government in the prevailing situation as they had also done in the case of Kashmir issue.
PM Imran appreciated his team for making right analysis and projections after consultations with the provinces and medical experts, without succumbing to any pressure.
He said due to the government’s timely measures, including the distribution of around Rs120 billion among 12 million families, Pakistan had averted the tough situation contrary to other countries, particularly India.
Coronavirus cases to peak in Pakistan by end of July or August: PM Imran
He said the poor people became the foremost casualty of the lockdown as the government had to simultaneously protect the people from the virus and poverty.
Apprising the nation of the consequences of strict lockdown in India, the prime minister quoted a survey that 84 per cent of Indian households faced economic loss, 34% would be unable to survive for more than a week without assistance and around 30 million youth had lost jobs.
“We would also have faced similar circumstances. But we survived, because we had not imposed a strict lockdown, rather we opened the construction industry and gave away Rs 120 billion to the 12 million people,” he stated.
He said despite the strict lockdown, the coronavirus cases were fast increasing in India and their hospitals were also under immense pressure.
Reiterating his call for adhering to the precautions, the prime minister said only the nations, which would follow the guidelines, could avert tough times.
Imran Khan said from the very first day, he had been advocating for a smart lockdown as only and effective solution which was also being acknowledged by the world.
He said unfortunately, the country’s elite had ignored the health sector during the last 60 years.
He said the implementation of the SOPs was essential to save the lives of particularly the vulnerable groups like the patients of the blood pressure, diabetes or the old aged people.
Highlighting the government’s measures in anti-Covid operations, the prime minister said the number of testing laboratories had been increased from two to 107, testing capacity increased up to 1.2 million a month, and ventilators from 2,800 to 4,800 while 1,400 more were in pipeline.
Moreover, he said, the number of ICU (intensive care unit) beds had been increased from 600 to 1300 and the government would add 1,000 oxygen beds by June and as many a month later.
The prime minister said it was unfortunate to see the people ignoring the SOPs and believing in conspiracy theories regarding the pandemic, which would do nothing but spread the infections.