No one can stop the coronavirus from spreading: PM

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has warned that no one can stop the deadly coronavirus from spreading, it can only be prevented by following SOPs on Friday. Addressing volunteers of Corona Relief Tiger Force today, the prime minister asked them to spread awareness among people far and wide in the country, as “Pakistan cannot undergo another lockdown.” “This country cannot undergo another lockdown. That's why we need you to spread awareness,” he maintained.

COVID-19 is not going to stop completely

The premier said that the COVID-19 is not going to stop completely, it will continue to spread. He said that if people do not follow SOPs, there is a danger of an even greater loss. “Pakistan stands at a juncture where we can defeat the corona virus if people strictly follow the SOPs,” he added. “We knew that any sort of extended lockdown would increase poverty. This ban on movement is difficult for the public and places a heavy burden on them. Now, the world is moving towards ‘smart lockdown’,” Imran Khan said.

ADB appreciates government’s steps

He said lockdowns impact the livelihoods of people and poor countries are grappling with this situation. He gave the example of neighboring India, where strict lockdown resulted in millions of people going unemployed. The premier mentioned that the effective steps taken by the government have been appreciated by the Asian Development Bank (ADP). He said under Ehsaas program emergency cash disbursements were made to the needy and eligible people.

Paid more than Rs5000bn in interest for loans

Referring to economic situation of the country, PM Khan said the Corona pandemic came at a time when the country was getting out of economic crisis due to prudent policies adopted by the government. “Our tax has been reduced by Rs800 billion and half of the tax collected in the first year was paid on loan interests, the prime minister said. He said that if the relief package had not been announced, the situation in the country would have been much worse. He said that the government has paid Rs5,000 billion in interest on the loans taken by previous governments, adding that more challenges lay ahead in the next budget.