ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Shibli Faraz has appealed to the nation to observe the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in fighting the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic.

Addressing a news conference here on Sunday, the minister said as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the government was striving to save the lives and livelihood in this crucial period.

He said the third wave was appearing to be more dangerous. Dispelling the rumours about the efficacy of vaccination, Shibli Faraz said people should get themselves vaccinated against the virus.

He said, "We are taking every step to control the inflation and [are] trying to expand the targeted subsidy policy to facilitate the general masses."

The minister said, "Under our universal healthcare programme, we are going to provide health cards across the Punjab on the pattern of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa."

He urged the opposition, specifically Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman not to misguide the people about Covid-19 and its vaccination.

Commenting on the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)’s press briefing on Sunday, he said the government was not worried about their plans but they should do something positive that could serve the masses in corona pandemic.

Shibli Faraz said the nation’s prayers and good wishes for the recovery of the prime minister show people's trust and love for Imran Khan.

Meanwhile, Shibli Faraz said that the Opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly, Haleem Adil Sheikh was being punished for exposing corruption of the ‘kingdom of darkness.’

In a statement on Sunday, he said the lobby clamoring for upholding of democracy and freedom of expression wanted to silence the dissenting voice of the Sindh opposition leader.

He said the entire Sindh government and its machinery was trying to harm the PTI’s (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) tiger Haleem Adil Sheikh, who as ‘a soldier of Imran Khan’ would continue the fight against corruption and injustice with full might.

He added that Haleem Adil Sheikh would continue raising the voice of the people of Sindh.