Losing 1900 Pakistanis within 100 days is tragic: Asad Umar
Govt's foremost priority is to slow pace of spread of corona pandemic: Planning Minister
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar has said that loss of more than 1900 precious lives due to coronavirus is tragic and shows the enormity and gravity of the situation.
Giving a media briefing from National Command and Operation Centre in Islamabad, he said that first and foremost priority is to slow the pace of spread of corona pandemic. He said two of the most important components of this strategy are to strictly follow the precautionary measures advised by medical community and to bring changes in our lifestyles.
He said government wants to help everyone earn their livelihoods, but not at the cost of peril to health of others. He said no one can be allowed to endanger life of others.
The people who are not adopting precautionary measures are not only risking their own lives, but also the lives of others with whom they come in contact with, he stressed.
“In the early days of virus, people had shown a great discipline and followed the guidelines to restrain spread of the disease, however I was much disappointed to see clear violation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the government during last days of Ramazan and during eid celebrations,” he said.
Asad Umar said district administrations across the country have been directed to take strict action where people flout the rules and SOPs. At present, he said 884 places across the country were sealed due to corona cases in particular areas and almost 200,000 people were affected by such lockdowns. However, he said troubling 200,000 people at the cost of saving 210 million people was a reasonable step.
The minister said the number of ventilators in the country has seen two fold increase in four months. He said in addition scientific institutions of the country in collaboration with private sector have started producing face masks and protective clothing.
Further he informed that a mobile Application was being launched to provide people information about availability of healthcare facilities in different hospitals across the country.
He specifically asked doctors and other healthcare staff to download this app so that they could provide information to common people.
He said in order to mitigate sufferings of those affected by lockdown, the government announced Rs 1200 billion stimulus relief package besides corona relief fund and other several packages by State Bank of Pakistan.
The minister specifically thanked workers and doctors of healthcare system who were playing role on front line besides he also thanked administration for working diligently during COVID-19 He said police was the second most important sector after health care who worked hard to enforce SOPs during lock down.
Asad Umar also thanked the ministry of information and Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) who were timely conveying the message of the government regarding coronavirus to the people.
He said the NCOC team was working day and night since March 27 without any break and their dedication and spirit was commendable.
One the occasion, Chief Executive Officer of National Information Technology Board (NITB) Shabahat Shah said that the Pak Negehban Emergency Response mobile Application would be functional from today for hospitals while it would be functional for common people in a couple of days.
