Pakistan's response to coronavirus threat among world's best, PM tells NA session

(Karachi) Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that Pakistan's response on coronavirus pandemic is the best among other countries of the world.

Addressing the National Assembly session on Thursday, he said that the Government of Pakistan was not confused about dealing with the outbreak. “I want to challenge the opposition to point out a single contradiction in my statements since we imposed the lockdown,” he said.

PM Imran said that the incumbent government introduced smart lockdown instead of imposing complete lockdown in order to protect our people from the disease and hunger. “34 percent of people have gone below the poverty line in India due to complete lockdown which vindicates our stance of not going for complete curfew”.

He said the government established National Command and Operation Centre to gather data, get expert opinion from doctors, input from provinces and evaluate world’s trends in dealing with the pandemic. He said now we have verified and updated data about corona patients and availability of necessaries medical equipment, including personal protective equipment, ventilators and beds in hospital.

He highlighted that it is need of the hour to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) properly to defeat coronavirus. He warned that negligence could make matters worse.

"If we can get past this month without numbers escalating, the worse could be over," the prime minister said.

He said the PTI government is making all efforts for developing the country. “FATA and Balochistan are being paid their complete share from the budget despite the government having less money,” PM Khan said.

He reminded the provinces of their commitment to provide funds for the development of K-P’s merged tribal districts from the National Finance Commission award.

Imran Khan elaborated that if the process of accountability is hampered and looted money is not recovered, it will become a trend setter and a bad example for others. He said the government intends to utilize recovered money to improve the education and health sectors.

The PM said the government has decided to give priority to the construction and agriculture sectors. He said we have given historic package for the construction industry.

"Rs30 billion have been allocated to provide affordable houses to the people on low interest rate." He said the government has not cut the Annual Development Program but reduced its non-development expenditure.

Comparing performances of his government with the previous ones, he said the present government inherited the current account deficit of twenty billion dollars which has now been reduced to three billion dollars.

He said the borrowing from the State Bank stood at six trillion rupees when PTI came to power but it has been brought down to zero. "Our tax collection witnessed a growth of 17 percent, and non-tax revenue 33 percent before the breakout of the coronavirus."

He said the United States acknowledges Pakistan role in peace process in Afghanistan and we are trying to facilitate in this regard. He said, "peace in Afghanistan is in the best interest of the region."

Imran Khan also elaborated that Pakistan is also trying its best to improve relations between the Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Regarding Kashmir issue, he said that if the Kashmir dispute is resolved, it would not only be beneficial for Pakistan but also for other countries in the region. "The Kashmir matter has reached point of no return," he stated. "War is not a solution to any problem," he stated.

He mentioned that India is now declaring Azad Kashmir as its own territory. "We raised the Kashmir issue on international platform and asked the world to play role to resolve the dispute."

He remarked, "Modi is a fanatic who is involved in persecution of minorities under its RSS inspired Hindutva ideology. Modi has committed a massacre of Muslims in Gujarat."