Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Saturday said the federal government is providing all possible resources and assistance to provinces to deal with the coronavirus threat efficiently and effectively.
“On behalf of Prime Minister Imran Khan, I assure that in current situation, we all are united, we have to give a message that being a nation, we can handle the threat of coronavirus effectively,” she said while addressing a video conference regarding effective media mechanism on coronavirus. She said the government is ensuring the provision of timely and correct information to media, adding that the government is also taking steps to stop fake news circulating on social media, causing panic among general public.
Dr Firdous was of the view that stoppage of misleading and fake news about the coronavirus is important. She also asked the opposition parties to set aside all the political differences at least until the threat of coronavirus is over. She said protecting health, life and property of people was the top most priority of the government.
She urged the masses to avoid coming out of homes unnecessarily and follow precautionary measures to control spread of deadly coronavirus, saying that social distancing can help avoid transmission of the disease. Responding to a question, she said only the prime minister has the authority to announce lockdown in the country.
The Sindh provincial minister sought help of media in the current situation to fight with the deadly coronavirus in an effective way.
Representative from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ajmal Wazir said the cases of coronavirus in the province has reached 23. He stressed upon the need to forge unity by putting aside all the political differences. He said two quarantine centers have been established in Dera Ghazi Khan for pilgrims coming from Iran.
