PM underscores need for greater unity

Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday said the whole world was confronted with an unprecedented situation after the outbreak of COVID-19 and the Pakistani nation would fight coronavirus with unity.

Talking to the Balochistan Cabinet and members of the Parliament during his day-long visit to Quetta, he said, "It is an unprecedented situation and as a nation we will confront it."

He said as coronavirus cases were being increased worldwide and expressed fear that the number of such cases in Pakistan would be increased at the end of April which would put more pressure on hospitals.

He said the government was fully focusing on providing personal protection equipments (PPEs) and other related tools to doctors and paramedical staff at the hospitals, adding that such equipments had been provided to all those working at the intensive care units.

He said there was shortage of ventilators and testing kits worldwide but the government was utilizing all its resources to import them on an emergency basis.

The prime minister said the National Command and Control Centre for Covid-19 was in constant touch with all the chief ministers for effective coordination to control the spread of the virus.

He expressed his pleasure that there was no patient of coronavirus in Balochistan in the intensive care units. The prime minister said the coronavirus would have less impact in Balochistan except Quetta as the province had a scattered population.

Contrary to it, he said, the Covid-19 would have greater impact in big cities like Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad and so on.

The prime minister reiterated that the complete lockdown was badly affecting the low-income and laborer community particularly in Balochistan as majority of the people here are already living below the poverty line. He said the provincial governments themselves would decide about the lockdown according to their situation on April 14.

He said the federal and provincial governments are in coordination to tackle the pandemic as no single government could tackle it alone.

Earlier, during his day-long visit, the prime minister visited quarantine centre at Bolan Medical College Hospital Quetta.

The prime minister was accompanied by Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Khan Soori and Sardar Yar Muhammad Rindh.

Balochistan Chief Secretary briefed the prime minister about the isolation ward and quarantine centre. The prime minister was also given a briefing on Covid-19 situation in Balochistan and the steps being taken to contain the spread of virus.

Balochistan Governor former Justice Aman Ullah Khan and Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan called on Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The Prime Minister called for adopting an effective and coordinated strategy to ensure uninterrupted supply of food items, continuity of economic activities, provision of job opportunities and reduction of poverty in Balochistan in the wake of situation arising out of the coronavirus outbreak. Stressing on the importance of sustained review of such a strategy, he, in that respect, also asked for the formation of a think-tank consisting of experts from various sectors.

The prime minister expressed these views while presiding over a briefing here on the situation arising out of the Covid-19 in Balochistan province.

Federal ministers Asad Umar, Zubaida Jalal, Governor Baluchistan former Justice Amanullah Khan, Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Provincial Minister for Education Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind, Commander Southern Command and senior officers were present.

Giving recommendations, he said the think-tank should prioritize and focus on the take-care and welfare of poor people living below the poverty line.

The prime minister also highlighted the importance of easing restriction for the promotion of agricultural activities and supply of food items in the province.