Provinces free to make decisions: Firdous

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan on Wednesday accused that the Sindh government was "dividing" the country amid coronavirus pandemic. The federal and provincial governments will have to work together to cope with the coronavirus challenge, she said.

While addressing a news conference along with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)'s Central Vice President and Parliamentary leader of the Party in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh, she said, Prime Minister Imran Khan was fully cognizant of his responsibilities and taking along all the federating units to successfully surmount the challenge.

The special assistant said that the Ehsaas Cash Emergency programme had been launched across the country to provide cash relief to the deserving families.

Awan said that the National Coordination Committee, at its meeting yesterday, took the decisions with consensus.

However, under the 18th amendment, the provinces can take the decisions keeping in view their ground situation.

She said it was the discretion of the Sindh government to impose a lockdown or the curfew in the areas of its jurisdiction.

She, however, said that the provincial government should not spread disappointment and fear among the people.

She said the provincial government must fulfill its responsibilities regarding provision of relief to the people.

The special assistant said it was not the time for politics but to collectively serve the masses.

She said the coronavirus would be overcome with the support of the masses.

She said, "This is an unpredictable and hidden enemy and the only panacea is to follow the precautionary measures."

Awan said the federal government was making every possible effort to not only protect the people from the pandemic but also from poverty and address their woes.

Haleem Adil Sheikh appreciated the federal government's Ehsaas Cash Emergency Programme.

He said, under this program, 10 billion rupees had been distributed among the deserving families in Sindh province alone.

He said the Sindh government should respect the federal government's decisions to cope with the current situation.

Earlier, in a tweet, she said the federal government would continue to further strengthen measures adopted by the provincial governments to check the spread of the coronavirus.

She said, "Imran Khan is the Prime Minister of Pakistan and his aim is to ensure protection of the rights of the people of all the federating units."

The special assistant said all the provinces are free and independent to make their decisions.

She said 18th amendment guaranteed constitutional powers to the provinces.

She said the Sindh government could take decisions according to the circumstances of its province and there was no restriction from the federal government in that regard.