Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan informed members of the national and provincial assemblies on Monday that the government has decided that lockdown will gradually be eased in the coming days keeping in view the ground realities, especially the economic situation of the country and the problems of the common man.

Subsequently, the premier directed the MNAs and MPAs to not only play their full role in providing relief to the people in this hour of need but also encourage the people to take precautionary measures so that the spread of the coronavirus could effectively be stopped.

While addressing the MNAs and MPAs, who were stationed at commissioners’ offices and other locations, the premier told the legislatures that comprehensive SOPs based on security measures have been prepared for each sector and public representatives should play an active role in implementing them.

“Keeping in view the ground realities, especially the economic situation of the country and the problems of the common man, the government has decided that the lockdown will be gradually eased in the coming days,” a statement issued by the PM office quoted Imran as saying in his address to the legislatures.

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The Prime Minister said that the government was trying its best to provide all possible relief to the people in view of the coronavirus situation, adding that despite the difficult circumstances, the government announced a total economic package of Rs1.25 trillion.

Imran said that the process of providing Rs12,000 to 12.5 million deserving families of Pakistan was being ensured on the basis of transparency and merit.

In addition, he said, a special program has been launched to provide relief to labourers and workers and directed all elected public representatives to ensure that all the beneficiaries in their constituencies could easily avail the relief package provided by the government.

Addressing the members, the prime minister said that it was very encouraging that people from all walks of life across the country came forward to assist in the efforts and provide relief to the people in the difficult situation created by the pandemic.

The premier added that TORs have been prepared for the use of Corona Relief Tiger Force, comprising one million volunteers. He said that the Tiger Force will not only help the district administration in providing relief to the people but it will also carry out important activities such as assisting in the implementation of security measures in public places and keeping the management informed about the stock situation of essential items at utility stores.

The Prime Minister said that a pilot project has already been launched in Sialkot in this regard on the basis of which Tiger Force can now fully be utilized.

Meanwhile, Minister for Planning Asad Umar briefed the meeting on the situation and prevention of coronavirus.

On Sunday, Umar feared that around 18 million people could lose their jobs in the country because of the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

“According to the calculations of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics [PIDE], between 20 million and 70 million people in the country might fall below the poverty line,” he said addressing a press briefing at the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Covid-19.

Umar, who heads the NCOC, had noted that an average of 24 people were dying because of Covid-19 in the country every day for the last six days and if the situation carried one in a similar manner, there would be 720 deaths each month.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2213787/1-pm-imrans-tiger-force-made-operational/