ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Syed Shibli Faraz on Sunday said that the whole world is acknowledging Pakistan s efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus but the opponents doesn’t even have courage to appreciate the government’s decision.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad flanked by Prime Minister’s Focal person on COVID-19 Dr Faisal Sultan and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Digital Pakistan Tania Aidrus, he said that to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic countries across the globe imposed complete lockdown but but Pakistan could not afford a complete lockdown, therefore, Prime Minister Imran Khan adopted the policy of smart lockdown.
He said Pakistan introduced smart lockdown policy in this situation to save precious lives and the economy as well.
Shibli Faraz said that Pakistan’s working class and especially daily wagers were most affected by the lockdown, adding that the prime minister tried to keep people s jobs going, but those who advised the lockdown took care of the elite. Such people always sucked the blood of the poor.
The minister went on to say that the government has adopted a balanced strategy to cope with the challenge of coronavirus pandemic effectively, adding that this model is being replicated in many countries in the world.
“Some countries observed strict lockdown to stop spread of this global epidemic but they are facing disturbing economic hardships and rising death toll,” he said.
Faraz further said National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) played a vital role and managed the situation scientifically.
Speaking on the occasion, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Digital Pakistan Tania Aidrus said that positive cases in Pakistan have now come in single digits, adding that by the grace of almighty Allah, we are in a position to control the pandemic despite limited resources.
She said that long lockdown would have caused a lot of damage to Pakistan, adding that we are proud that the strategy of smart lockdown had been adopted in Pakistan.
The special assistant said that the first COVID-19 case came to light in Pakistan in February, at that time we did not have any data but cases and deaths are now declining on daily basis. Prime Minister’s Focal person on COVID-19 Dr Faisal Sultan said that the increase in the number of cases during Eidul Fitr had put pressure on the system but now we have to strictly follow the SOPs during Eidul Azha and Muharram.
