Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that the novel coronavirus can be curbed if people take precautions “voluntarily” without panicking. The premier was chairing a meeting of the National Coordination Committee on Coronavirus.
The prime minister was briefed on the implementation of the steps which were decided last week during the National Security Committee’s meeting. The chief ministers apprised the premier of the steps taken by provincial governments to control the virus from spreading and also discussed the challenges and future strategy.
Prime Minister Imran remarked that the government realised the severity of the situation and will take every measure to tackle the growth of the virus. He also emphasised the importance of raising awareness among the masses so they can take appropriate precautions to protect themselves from the viral. The prime minister added that he will address the nation over the issue but did not announce the date.
Minister for Religious Affairs Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, Interior Minister Ijaz Shah, Adviser on Finance Hafeez Sheikh, and Special Assistant on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza were present on the occasion. Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant for Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfiqar Abbass Bukhari and others also attended the meeting. All the chief ministers attended the meeting through video link and briefed the prime minister over the measures taken by the provincial authorities to curb the spread of the novel virus.
Balochistan Chief Minister Jamal Kamal Khan told meeting that there was a “severe shortage” of coronavirus testing kits and ventilators in the province. The chief minister was taking part via video link in a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan on coronavirus. He briefed participants of the meeting about the facilities being provided to pilgrims in Taftan and Quetta.
On the recommendation of the chief minister, it was decided to send pilgrims in Taftan to send them back to their respective provinces. A consensus was reached during the meeting that the pilgrims will be quarantined by provincial governments and tested for the virus.
It was also decided during the meeting that pilgrims from Taftan will be sent back to their respective provinces Tuesday.
The chief minister said that food, water, health and shelter facilities were available for pilgrims at Taftan. He said that traders and pilgrims made up the estimated 3,000 people who were quarantined in Taftan. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, briefing media about NCC meeting, said on Monday that people should not panic and instead focus on the positive aspect of the situation. “Ninety-seven to 98% of the people who are infected with the coronavirus recover,” he said. nationals entering the country from Iran.
After the 14-day incubation period ended, around 300 pilgrims left for Sindh. They were then quarantined in Sukkur where the Sindh government ran tests on the pilgrims before allowing them to travel further.
Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party minister Saeed Ghani in a news conference after a meeting on academic year amid the novel coronavirus outbreak said that the Sindh government on Monday asked the Centre to fly pilgrims quarantined in Taftan to Karachi and move them to isolation wards. Ghani said the provincial government was ready to bear all expenses.
Ghani said the 800 people had left the quarantine in Taftan but only 300 pilgrims have arrived in Sukkur so far. The number, he said, could surpass 900. The press conference came hours after Sindh Health Department confirmed 41 new COVID-19 cases. Sindh Health Department spokesperson Meeran Yousuf said that four cases were confirmed late Sunday while another 37 surfaced early Monday. Combined with the 13 confirmed cases from yesterday, the total number of pilgrims who tested positive stands at 50.
The province’s tally stands at 76 while Pakistan’s swells to 136.
Ghani dismissed rumours about promoting students without examination and listed down dates for the academic year. “The new academic year will begin June 1,” he told reporters. “The exams for grade one to eight will be held between June 1 and 15. The students will be promoted after the results.”
For grade nine and 10, the exams will be held between June 15 to 30 and the result will be announced on August 15. For grade 11 and 12, the exams will start July 6 onwards while results will be announced on September 15. The classes, however, will begin August 1 – the enrollment will be based on the results of grade 9. Failed candidates would be annulled.
When asked about the summer school fee, Ghani cited court orders and explained that the schools have to pay their employees during the summer vacations. He, however, asserted that there will be no advance fee and urged parents to pay on monthly basis.
Defending Sindh government’s decision to shut educational institutes till May 31 against federal and provincial governments’ decision to close schools till April 5, Ghani said the outbreak was likely to increase and highlighted that the disease was now locally transmitted.
“We made the decision after much deliberation,” he said, adding that the provincial government didn’t want any confusion in notifying and de-notifying holidays.
