Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while addressing the National Assembly (NA), said that COVID-19 is a national challenge and an emergency has been declared to combat it.
Addressing the NA, he said that coronavirus is a national issue that needs to be addressed nationally and not regionally. Ehsas program was introduced through which people across the country are being helped.
He, also, denied the perception that coronavirus was spread by pilgrims or members of the Tablighi Jamaat.
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FM Qureshi further said that according to previous estimates, the health system in Pakistan could have been in crisis so far but thank God the situation is under control.
Addressing the National Assembly, he said, “Collective opinion is being used to fight the epidemic.” Decisions in this regard are being taken by the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) and the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC).
Furthermore, FM said that the issue of provincial autonomy was very sensitive and the provinces should have the freedom to make their own decisions. He said that this freedom was being given to the provincial governments. “The prime minister takes everyone’s opinion and then makes decisions.”
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Foreign Minister Qureshi has admitted that the number of people being tested in Pakistan is still insufficient. He said that so far more than two lakh people have been tested.
Addressing the National Assembly, he said: “It is not enough to compare it with the population of Pakistan. We are trying to make it grow. Pakistan has the highest testing capacity as compared to some other Asian countries.”
He said that the infection and death rate in Pakistan is 2.17 percent while, globally, the rate is 6.8 percent.
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