OUR CORRESPONDENT
MUZAFFARABAD President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday expressed the optimism that Pakistani nation would exhibit discipline to maintain lockdown and social distancing in order to fight the coronavirus and to eventually emerge as a great nation. Speaking to media persons during daylong visit to Muzaffarabad, he said ‘Pakistani nation is ready to become a great nation by observing selfdiscipline in their life and at mosques and adopt maximum preventive measures to check spread of the COVID-19.’ He said the life and vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah also laid emphasis on the unity, faith and discipline. Referring to emergence of Japan and Germany as great nations after the World War-II, the President said that the big nations did emerge solely through discipline and hard work. He said the 20- point guidelines, agreed between the government and religious scholars for congregational prayers at mosques during Holy month of Ramazan, were now obligatory for being a consensus agreement. The President lauded the effective steps of Azad Jammu and Kashmir government to stem the coronavirus. He said he had come to Muzaffarabad to witness the situation arising out of COVID-19 in Azad Kashmir. He also appreciated the people of Azad Kashmir for observing self-discipline and expressed hope that they would follow AJK government’s guidance in future as well. He said through discipline and by adopting preventive measures including cleanliness, repeated handwash, mask, the deadly virus could effectively be controlled in the AJK. The President said the federal government had allow ed opening of some sectors including essential items and construction industry during the lockdown. He said reaction to lockdown in various countries were different. Similarly, the provinces also decided about the lockdown while keeping in view the situation. Regarding Occupied Kashmir, the President strongly condemned the use of heavy guns along the Line of Control by India. He said Muslims in Occupied Kashmir and India were being discriminated in the w ake of COVID-19. He urged the Secretary General of the United Nations to take notice of the Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir and discriminatory treatment being meted out to Muslims in India following the outbreak of COVID-19. Earlier, the President of Pakistan was given detailed briefing about various steps taken by the Azad Kashmir Government to fight the COVID19. Azad Kashmir President Sardar Masood Khan and Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider welcomed the President of Pakistan and apprised him about coronavirus situation in AJK. The AJK President Sardar Masood Khan has expressed gratitude to President Dr Arif Alvi for categorically reiterating support to the people of Indian Occupied Jammu Kashmir struggling for their freedom and the realization of the right to self-determination during his visit to AJK. The President of Pakistan also handed over protective equipment for doctors and health workers to Azad Kashmir Government. Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal also accompanied the President of Pakistan.
