PM Imran urges nation to stay cautious during Eid, Muharram

Premier warns Covid-19 cases can increase if people are not careful

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday urged the nation to take preventive measures during Eidul Azha and Muharram, warning that Covid-19 cases may increase if SOPs are not followed.

“I appeal to the whole nation to thank Allah that he has saved us from a big catastrophe,” PM Imran said during his address to the nation. “We have to be careful in Eid and Muharram as coronavirus cases could increase if we are not careful.”

The premier also urged the nation to buy sacrificial animals online and if need be, go to the cattle market while adhering to the preventive SOPs.

“If we are successful in these two months, then we would be able to open other sectors such as tourism and education,” he said. “If were are not careful, then we would be putting the lives of our loved ones especially the elderly in danger.”

The premier gave examples of Australia, Spain and neighbour Iran, where Covid-19 cases dropped and their citizens were not careful, thus resulting in a surge of cases.

“People would have come on the streets if a strict lockdown was imposed. There are still effects of the curfew that was imposed in India,” the premier said. “The rich can live easily if a strict lockdown is imposed, But it is difficult for poor people.”

He further added that the government opened the construction sector, but were criticised for it as people, with resources to sustain a strict lockdown, said that doing so would claim a lot of lives.

“There was a risk, but we had to decide and not let people die of hunger,” PM Imran said.

We implemented the smart lockdown perfectly, added the prime minister. 

“The world is still learning about the coronavirus,” he said. “We are not able to understand it properly. We realises that when the cases reduce, and if the people are not careful, the cases could quickly increase.”

PM Imran also appreciated his government for successfully implementing the Ehsaas cash programme

The programme proved to be pivotal in saving the less privileged of our society, and "nowhere in the world was such programme executed with such transparency."