The Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has said the government would unveil incentives in the second phase for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and incentives for the industries would increase incrementally in the days ahead.
Speaking at the Ehsaas fund raising telethon on Thursday, Khan said that middle of May to end of May 2020 would be a very challenging time in the fight against coronavirus as four to five percent patients were expected to increase drastically.
The prime minister said that SMEs were not registered and government was finding it difficult to reach out to them but promised that incentives for the industries would increase incrementally, and in the second phase a package for SMEs after the construction sector in the first phase, would be introduced in a couple of days.
The prime minister said that "my effort is to further bring down the policy rate" adding that but there was also concern that it might have an impact on the exchange rate.
He said the government had been striving for quite some time to offer a package for the construction sector but was unable to do so, because its hands were tied due to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Khan said the corona crisis created an opportunity for the government not only to announce much-delayed construction package but also provided an opportunity to review contracts signed by the previous governments in the past with the IPPs.
The premier continued that due to these contracts with the power producers the government was in great difficulty as if it increases price of electricity as a result of these agreements, it creates enormous problems for the consumers and the industry, therefore the crisis provided an opportunity to the government to look into them.
The prime minister also spoke of a complete lockdown as it could lead to difficulties and hurt the daily wagers, and now once the lockdown has been enforced; there would be a time lag in opening of lockdown.
The premier said that due to lockdown people were running out of their savings and now once it had been enforced there would be a time lag in opening of the lockdown.
The premier said that this disease affects everyone equally without any discrimination between the rich and the poor.
The prime minister said that this virus would not stop, so everyone should follow the precautionary measures and remain at home.
He urged the people to pray inside their homes in the holy month of Ramazan instead of going to the mosques.
"We are trying to reach out to the poor families through Ehsass programme," the prime minister said.
The prime minister said with regards to prayers during Ramazan, that it became clear to the government during discussion with the religious scholars that stopping people from going to mosques with force was not a viable option for the government.
He added the government had taken the decision in consultation with religious scholars, and if virus spread was noticed due to opening of mosques, the government would have no other option but to shut down mosques.
He said that the only way to deal with the virus was track and trace system, which was developed against terrorism but was now being used in the fight against coronavirus.
The prime minister said the dam fund was intact and would be used on the construction of dam.
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