–Imran asks people not to panic, says people will die of hunger if govt locks down country
–Warns profiteers and hoarders of stern action, urges people to cooperate with govt in containing virus outbreak
— Warns int’l community to be prepared to write off debts to developing nations
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that the government had decided not to lock down the country, but warned the people that the novel coronavirus will continue to spread in Pakistan and that they should act responsibly.
“Get it through your heads, the virus will spread,” Imran said in a pre-recorded address to the nation.
However, the prime minister told the people not to panic, saying that 97% of the affectees had recovered from the deadly virus. He added that the virus was dangerous for old people since it attacked their already-weakened immune system.
Imran spoke about the coronavirus situation around the world, saying that the US, Italy, and England have reacted differently to the virus. However, he said that Pakistan cannot afford the same response as European countries.
“Our economic situation is very fragile,” he said. “If we close down the country, what will happen to the poor? People will die of hunger here,” he said.
PM Imran said that his government took the difficult decision to prohibit public gatherings and ban events where public showed up in huge numbers such as the Pakistan Super League 2020.
The prime minister said that an economic committee will determine how the government can cope with the coronavirus situation. Imran said that he feared food prices will once again rise as profiteers and hoarders will once again resume illicit activities.
“I want to warn these people [profiteers, hoarders] not to make money from the people’s misery,” he said. “The state will take stern action against you.”
He said that the virus was spreading in countries and the government was studying responses of other governments and how they were acting to eliminate the pandemic. He also paid tribute to the Government of Balochistan and the Pakistan Army for ensuring that pilgrims arriving from Taftan were quarantined.
The prime minister urged people to join hands with the government in its ‘war’ against the novel infection and act responsibly. He urged people to avoid large gatherings and refrain from shaking hands with each other.
PM Imran urged the nation not to panic and said that every person should not get himself/herself tested based on only mild flu symptoms. He said that testing kits should be used for only people who were really suffering from the novel virus.
“Aap ne ghabrana nahi hai [You don’t need to panic],” he said. “It is our belief that life and death are in the hands of Allah.”
He praised the efforts of doctors and nurses and said that the government will help them in their ‘Jihad’ against the coronavirus. PM Imran said that he understood the plight of overseas Pakistanis at this hour, especially the Pakistani students who were stranded in Wuhan.
The prime minister addressed the country’s ulema and said that it was their responsibility to play a positive role in the crisis.
‘WRITE OFF DEBTS’:
Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed fear that the new coronavirus will devastate the economies of developing nations and warned the international community to be prepared to write off the debts to developing nations if the same happens.
In an interview with The Associated Press, the prime minister expressed concerns over the devastating impact the virus may have on economies of “poorer countries”.
“My worry is poverty and hunger,” Imran said, adding: “The world community has to think of some sort of a debt write-off for countries like us, which are very vulnerable, at least that will help us in coping with (the coronavirus).”
Expressing fear of a possible economic fallout of COVID-19, Imran said that if a serious outbreak happens in the country, the government’s efforts to lift the economy out of near-collapse would begin an unstoppable slide backward.
“Exports would fall off, unemployment would soar and an onerous national debt would become an impossible burden,” the premier added.
The prime minister noted that Pakistan, being a developing economy, does not have the capability and resources to deal with the adverse effects of coronavirus.
“It’s not just Pakistan. I would imagine the same in India, in the subcontinent, in African countries,” he said, referring to the virus. “If it spreads, we will all have problems with our health facilities. We just don’t have that capability. We just don’t have the resources.”
