–Federal info minister says Sindh govt failed in implementing lockdown effectively
–Says Centre imposed ‘smart lockdown’ to protect daily wagers and labourers from economic fallout
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz on Friday rejected the criticism of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari over the federal government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, saying the outbreak is a national problem and the public will not forgive those who are trying to play politics in the midst of crisis.
Faraz was addressing his first press conference after taking charge as the information minister.
He said the nation is faced with an unprecedented challenge of COVID-19 and a collective response is required to meet it.
He said the relief packages announced by the federal government were for the whole country rather any specific province or area. He said that the deserving families from across the country, including Sindh, were getting an amount of Rs 12,000 each transparently under the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme.
Commenting on the Sindh government’s steps regarding coronavirus, the minister said that the PPP’s government in Sindh had failed in effective implementation of its lockdown decision as people could be witnessed roaming in streets freely.
Faraz said the federal government adopted the concept of smart lockdown under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to protect the daily wagers and labourers from the economic impact of coronavirus.
The country could not afford a complete lockdown due to the economic situation and even the developed states were also opting for the smart lockdown to keep their economic wheels running, he added.
The information minister said now there was a realization on the importance of striking a balance between the lockdown and revival of economic activities to save the vulnerable segments of the society from hunger and starvation.
The strategy was being finalized for reopening of the industrial sector, he said, appealing to the people related to the industries to take precautionary measures. The prime minister wanted that the lockdown should be eased to some extent so that the country’s economy could grow, he added.
Faraz said the welfare of workers and labourers had always remained the topmost priority of the government. Even before the coronavirus outbreak, their welfare was the main focus of the government’s planning under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The government announced a Rs 200 billion package under the Ehsaas Cash Emergency Programme, under which Rs 12,000 were being distributed among every deserving family, including the labourers, he added.
He said the prime minister took the steps for the betterment of workers and the homeless by opening shelter homes and soup kitchen.
To a question, the minister said consultations with the opposition for finalizing standard operating procedures to summon the session of parliament were in advanced stage.
The government wanted to hold the sessions of both the National Assembly and the Senate, but it was vital to adopt precautionary measures in the given situation when NA Speaker Asad Qaiser had been diagnosed with the coronavirus.
He said it was important to call the sessions of two houses of the parliament as approval of certain bills, which were going to lapse, was necessary.
The opposition was a part and parcel of the political system and the government welcomed its constructive criticism which proved helpful in improving the standard of governance and transparency. The opposition should play its role within the realm of democratic norms and values, he remarked.
Regarding the situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir, the information minister said the government had effectively highlighted the lingering dispute at the world forums, including the United Nations. Prime Minister Imran Khan had raised his voice regarding Kashmir on all relevant forums and his speech in the General Assembly on the issue had become part of the history.
Replying to a question, Shibli Faraz said it was the prime minister’s prerogative to change his team members keeping in view the situation and interest of the country. He expressed the commitment to transform the Information Ministry as per the modern requirements, and enhance its outreach to project the national interests and the country’s image.
To a question, he said the policy was being formulated for the betterment of media workers and payment of outstanding dues to the media houses were being done on a war footing. However, under the policy, the payment of outstanding salaries to the media workers by media houses management would be ensured.
