CRTF to support people in affected areas during lockdown: PM
PM announces relief package, youth force, public fund to fight COVID-19
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the nation to unite against the coronavirus pandemic. Pakistan would fight the outbreak through faith, unity, and support fr affected people, with the Pakistan Army assisting where needed.
Addressing the nation on Pakistan Television on Monday, the prime minister said money, hospitals, and medical resources alone could not defeat the pandemic. He pointed to the challenges faced by the United States and other major powers despite their greater financial resources.
He said Pakistan had allocated $8 million to fight the pandemic, compared with the $2,000 billion allocated by the United States. He added that the country would need faith and collective efforts to overcome the crisis.
Pakistan Cannot Afford a Complete Lockdown, Says PM
Prime Minister Imran Khan said the government could not impose a complete lockdown without considering its impact on low-income families. He noted that around 25 per cent of Pakistan’s population lived below the poverty line.
He explained that a lockdown would create serious difficulties for people who depended on daily wages to buy food and meet their basic needs.
“The coronavirus doesn’t discriminate between the rich and poor,” the prime minister said. He also questioned how poor families would obtain food during a lockdown and whether the government could deliver supplies to every household.
He added that the government was assessing the situation and would work to overcome the pandemic through national unity and support for affected communities.
Tiger Force to Support People During Lockdowns
The prime minister said the government’s Tiger Force would help provide food, medicines, and other essential supplies to people in areas affected by the coronavirus.
He said the force would work with the Pakistan Army to support communities if local lockdowns became necessary.
Imran Khan also claimed that most young people infected with the virus could recover at home, while around 4 to 5 per cent of affected people would require hospital treatment. These figures reflected his statement at the time.
The prime minister announced a Coronavirus Relief Fund Account at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP). He urged citizens to contribute donations to help the government support people affected by the pandemic.
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