Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan, while holding a telethon at a private TV channel to raise donations for his corornavirus fund on Friday, said no government could win the war against COVID-19 alone and national unity was needed to defeat the deadly contagion.

He said the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) comprised representatives from the federal and provincial governments, military officials and medical experts, who jointly take decisions through coordination.

The telethon was also broadcast live in Saudi Arabia, Canada, US and Europe.

Answering questions, he said Rs144 billion will be distributed among 12 million families, but we know there are more people who need this support.

“We are using all our resources, but we have to take care of 220 million people who live below the poverty line across the country… that’s why we have arranged this fundraising telethon,” he explained.

He said the government was leaving no stone unturned to tackle the crisis.

“Countries around the world are taking the brunt of coronavirus… many governments are struggling… even the rich European countries. You can see the situation in New York… even they were asking for help from other states.

“We know that the coronavirus cases will further rise in the coming days, but by limiting our movement, we can flatten the curve… this is the aim of my government.”

He said due to a weak health system in the country, people are requested to socially distance themselves. “We have to take all possible precautions… that’s the only way out of this crisis,” he maintains.

“No one knows what the situation would be in future… we can only hope for the best,” said the premier.

The cricketer-turned-politician said he had expertise in raising funds and people trust him.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2194688/1-pia-aircraft-carrying-aid-china-arrives-islamabad-nationwide-tally-soars-past-4600/