PM Imran says Pakistan does not have capacity to opt for lockdown

• PM says it is better to quarantine ourselves instead of shutting the entire country.
• It is time to get united and fight against coronavirus as one nation: Imran.
• Prime minister says like China, we will also be able to control the coronavirus outbreak.

(Karachi) Prime Minister Imran Khan has said Pakistan does not have the capacity to go for lockdown. He added it is better to quarantine ourselves instead of shutting the entire country.

In a televised address to the nation over coronavirus situation on Sunday, the PM said that the lockdown will affect the elderly and poor people. "Lockdown means to impose curfew in the country and deploy police and army which is not feasible," he remarked.

He said 25% people in the country live below poverty line. He said it is time to get united and fight against coronavirus as one nation. He maintained the lockdown will only lead to panic in the country.

He said like China, we will also be able to control the coronavirus outbreak. The prime minister said that it is time we should take precautionary measures and deal with the pandemic.

"We have limited resources and need to counter the disease amicably." Imran mentioned the government is making strategies for the poor class, industrialists and businessmen.

PM says panic is more dangerous than coronavirus which could prove destructive for the country. He urged the nation to cooperate with the government in battle against the deadly disease.

Earlier, Sindh government decided to impose lockdown in the province.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that the decision to lockdown has been taken in the best interest of the public. He added the government is taking such decisions to protect spread of coronavirus.

He said, “I have no option left but to impose lockdown in the province." He pointed out that the Sindh government has also set up a Coronavirus emergency fund to facilitate the public. “The funds will be used to help poor people."

He directed the Sui gas and K-Electric officials to refrain from disconnecting connections during lockdown. He also instructed the officials to take bills amounting to Rs5,000 in 10 monthly instalments. Murad said that during lockdown food items and commodities will continue to be supplied in markets.

Till date, there are 645 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country while four people have died of the disease. Of the total, 292 patients belong to Sindh, 152 Punjab, 104 Balochistan, 31 Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 10 in Islamabad and 56 in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.