Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday said imposing lockdown is not a solution to the coronavirus rather a temporary step and that the government will take its decisions according to the ground realities and condition of the people.
Chairing a meeting about the Covid-19 situation, the prime minister said the lockdown had a negative effect on the routine life of the people. However, due to the unprecedented situation, the government is maintaining a balance between hunger and the lockdown by adopting various precautionary measures to prevent the spread of pandemic. The hunger, he said, is more dangerous for the people than the lockdown. “In the present situation, if the economy is not revived, the problems of the poor and downtrodden segments of the society will increase,” he said, adding that the government is cognizant of the losses the country’s economy has suffered due to the closure of businesses but it had to take that step under compulsion.
Emphasizing on a friendly awareness campaign about the coronavirus, the prime minister said instead of forcing the people to adopt precautionary measures, there is a need of creating awareness among them. He directed the police should adopt a friendly attitude instead of coercive measures.
Imran Khan appreciated the media for creating public awareness about the pandemic and said the media should further pursue the people in a more effective way about adopting precautionary measures and implementing the guidelines regarding containing the virus.
The chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa informed the meeting about the difficulties of the common man due to closure of transport, which has badly affected their business and movement.
The demands of automobile sector particularly motorcycle manufacturers and shopping mills association were also presented to the prime minister.
