Relief package: Govt allocates Rs200 bn for labour class, slash petrol prices by Rs15 per litre

• The government will give Rs100 billion tax refund to businessmen, exporters and industries: PM.
• Imran says Rs100 billion have also been earmarked for Small and Medium Enterprises.
• The electricity and gas bills will be payable in three months instalments, says prime minister.

(Karachi) Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the government has allocated Rs200 billion for the labour class in wake of the coronavirus outbreak. He added prices of petroleum products will be slashed by Rs15 per litre.

Announcing the economic package in Islamabad on Tuesday, he said Rs200 billion have been allocated for the labour class in wake of the coronavirus outbreak. He pointed out that the government will give Rs100 billion tax refund to businessmen, exporters and industries.

The PM said that the prices of petroleum products including diesel, petrol, kerosene oil etc will be reduced by Rs15 per litre.

He mentioned that Rs3,000 will be provided monthly to families belonging to the poor class for the next four months. "The government has allocated Rs150 billion for the purpose." Imran said the government will make decisions keeping in view and to facilitate the poor segments of the society.

The PM said that Rs100 billion have also been earmarked for Small and Medium Enterprises. The prime minister said that in a bid to facilitate the masses, the electricity and gas bills will be payable in three months instalments.

For procurement of wheat, the PM said Rs280 billion have been allocated for the purpose. In addition, he said Rs150 billion have been set aside for utility stores. "The government will provide Rs50 billion more to utility stores in coming months."

For the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Imran said Rs25 billion have been earmarked for it to deal with the national crisis.

"A special package is also being prepared to help out our construction industry, which will be announced in a few days. Construction industry provides countless jobs and creates wealth for our economy," concluded PM Khan.

He said that the government has not yet banned transport in the country as it will affect the transportation of food items. He elaborated that the government has also reduced and removed taxes on some food items in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

During the question/answer session with senior journalists, the PM said that curfew is the last stage of a lockdown. "Lockdown in the country began when 21 cases of coronavirus were reported." Prime Minister Imran Khan said the impact of a curfew on the economy would be immense.  "If I am living in Defence, I have a big garden, why would I care about how the poor people will be impacted?" he said.

He said that the country is threatened more by panic than the novel coronavirus. The premier said that Pakistan does not have a strong economy like the countries in the West.

He also negated the impression that the government was unprepared for the crisis, saying that administration has been reviewing the situation since January.

"We will have to prepare volunteers and provide food at doorsteps of the people," he remarked.

He said it is time the nation should stand in unity and fight the pandemic with bravery. He highlighted that the government is closely monitoring the situation and taking measures in the best interest of the masses.

Imran Khan said that the media in Pakistan enjoys freedom of expression unlike other countries. "After the 18th amendment, provinces are free to take decisions in the best interest of the people," he remarked.

The PM also announced that a package is being prepared for media workers.

On the occasion, NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal said that he meant to acquire 10,000 additional ventilators over the next few months in order to cope with any health crisis, such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

He revealed that there were around 2,200 ventilators across Pakistan at the moment. Only around half of these would be available if needed for Covid-19 patients, he added.

"Unfortunately, nothing is available anywhere except in China," he said. "Let me tell you China's situation as well. I call the Chinese ambassador around three to four times a day and meet him once or twice. I talk to NDRC (National Development and Reform Commission) and foreign ministry of China. After all this, now they are issuing instructions to their factories to provide the material Pakistanis are asking for [as a] preferred buyer."

He said that acquiring protective gear for doctors and health staff was the first priority and "a small number" will arrive tomorrow while another batch will arrive on Thursday. The protective equipment included around a million masks, out of which 50,000 were N-95, he said.

He maintained that the material to prepare protective gear will also arrive and will be manufactured in a factory in Lahore. Furthermore, 50,000 testing kits will arrive on Thursday.