Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Prime Minister Imran Khan said Thursday there would be no compromise or concession in the action taken against smuggling and those involved in what he termed was “a menace” for the Pakistani economy.
Smuggling, PM Imran said, hurt the country’s system and posed a grave risk to the nation’s food security, leading to stress and challenges for the common people when a shortage of basic necessities arose.
He was chairing a meeting on checking smuggling and prices of essential commodities in Islamabad on Thursday. “The menace also caused irreparable harm to the country’s industries,” he said.
There would be no exception or compromise in action taken against smuggling, PM Imran added. He also directed the relevant institutions — working on controlling smuggling and taking action against those involved in the crime — to present bimonthly reports in order to monitor progress on curbing the menace.
During the meeting, the provincial chief secretaries apprised the premier on wheat production, harvesting, and the overall situation and briefed him in detail about the steps taken to bring down the prices.
Reports compiled by different provincial governments on action against hoarding and illegal profiteering were also presented to PM Imran. In addition, a detailed briefing was given to him on the provision of basic commodities to the public at controlled rates in the utility stores across Pakistan.
He said provision of the benefit of reduction in fuel prices to people should be ensured and asked the provincial governments to play an active role in this regard.
Separately, Industries and Production Minister Hammad Azhar briefed the prime minister on the possible reduction in the prices of cement, steel, and cooking oil. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday chaired a meeting of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief ministers via video link to review coronavirus situation.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Affairs Dr Zafar Mirza briefed the meeting on the virus statistics, its spread in the hotspots, rate of testing and availability of medical facilities to cater the virus patients.
The meeting was also briefed over availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the doctors and paramedics and measures needed to improve health facilities in both the provinces.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that they had to create balance between avoiding hunger and coronavirus. “Lockdown is only a temporary measure to avoid coronavirus not a cure of it,” he said adding that they had to take decisions keeping in view their ground realities.
He said that the shutdown of business has caused unbearable losses to the country’s economy.
Terming coronavirus a reality, Imran Khan stressed upon the masses to adopt preventive measures to avoid it. “We had to implement the devised standard operating procedures (SOPs) at all cost,” he said while stressing upon the need to launch awareness campaign among masses to adopt the preventive measures.
He further directed the provincial authorities to ensure that police treat the masses in a friendly manner during lockdown.
