ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday announced a two-week extension the nationwide lockdown which would last till April 30, 2020 in the wake of growing Cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Talking to media after a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) held in Islamabad, the prime minister said that we made the hard decision of imposing lockdown in the Country which was very well implemented due to the cooperation of people.
Consequently, he added that encouraging results are being received with a spread of Coronavirus slowing down to 30% of the projected target.
The prime minister announced to open the Construction Industry in Cities from today (April 14) as it has the lowest risk factor in terms of Coronavirus spread. He said that there is a consensus between the Center and the Provinces regarding opening the Construction Sector for providing employment to people.
Imran Khan said that an Ordinance will be laid out soon to provide big incentives to the Construction Sector to generate job opportunities.
Briefing the media, the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on National Security Dr. Moeed Yusuf told that 7,000 Pakistanis will be repatriated from abroad per day after April 20.
Moeed Yusuf said that the repatriation process of Pakistanis stranded in various Countries will be accelerated in phases.
Earlier, the Federal Cabinet, which discussed important matters like the situation arising out of the COVID-19 outbreak and other agenda items, also accorded the approval to extend the sustained lockdown across the Country.
وفاقی کابینہ کا اجلاس اسلام آباد میں جاری ۔۔۔وزیراعظم عمران خان اجلاس کی صدارت کر رہے ہیں۔۔۔کورونا وائرس سے پیدا شدہ موجودہ صورتحال اور دیگر امور پر غور۔ pic.twitter.com/QhaTlXEmjL
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) April 14, 2020
Since February 26 when the first Case of COVID-19 surfaced in the Country, a total of 5,716 people including 2,826 in Punjab, 1,452 in Sindh, 800 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 233 in Gilgit Baltistan, 230 in Balochistan, 131 in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), and 43 in Azad Kashmir have been tested positive for the virus.
However, 1,378 patients have now been recovered but 96 have passed away.
Earlier in the day, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) in its meeting held in Islamabad under the Chairmanship of the Planning Minister Asad Umar finalized various recommendations for the NCC’s approval in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
The NCOC meeting recommended that guidelines for Ramazan regarding Taraweeh and Mass Congregations should be formulated in consultation with Ulema.
The meeting suggested that the Ministry of Interior in consultation with Ulema will formulate guidelines for Ramazan covering aspects like Taraweeh, Namaz, Roza Congregations, Iftar and Sehri, arrangements of Jumma Bazaar, Ramazan Bazaar, distribution of food items, and collection of Fitrana.
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