PM Imran vows more shelter homes for low income groups
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said the government will incrementally increase shelter homes in Pakistan.
He insisted that Pakistanis are charitable and passionate in their desire to give, and the government only has to ensure confidence [of the public]. “People start sending food themselves to shelter homes,” said the PM, assuring that transparency will be ensured in the relief and Ehsaas programs.
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The government will identify spots where shelter homes are needed, and channels will be set up to allow philanthropists to offer sponsorships for the same.
The premier also thanked Dr. Sania Nishtar for her work on the Ehsaas program, and credited the initiative, as well as the decision to reopen the construction sector, for the condition in Pakistan not being “as bad as in India”.
He reiterated that the government’s challenge is to ensure that the wheels of the economy keep running while at the same time the public is made aware of the SOPs needed to control the spread of the pandemic.
Referring to the Covid-19 Tiger Force, the premier said it was active and has been reaching out in areas identified as virus hot spots.
Earlier, the prime minister said it is a fact that the virus will spread and the “the trend our experts have observed is that it spreads, then peaks after a few weeks and then the curve will flatten”.
“The purpose of flattening the curve is to ease the pressure on hospitals,” explained the premier while addressing the nation on state television.
“We can manage the pandemic if we observe the SOPs in place and take precautions,” the premier had urged the people.
“We expect our peak to come by the end of July or August and then we will witness a reduction in transmission of new cases.”
FATA DEVELOPMENT:
Separately, PM Imran chaired a meeting to review development progress in former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), which has now been merged with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (K-P).
Imran expressed his wish for development projects to be initiated in the region soon, said Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Shibli Faraz, in a video statement released to brief on the meeting. Faraz quoted the PM as saying that the people and the youth of FATA are dear to him.
Faraz added that the federal government has released the funds allocated in 2018 in this regard.
Besides, a committee has been constituted to coordinate with other provinces and ensure the availability and release of remaining funds, he said.
The minister further added that PM Imran expressed his wish for the ‘sacrifices’ of the people of FATA, with regards to countering terrorism, being recognized.
According to Faraz, the prime minister wants development works in the region to be initiated as soon as possible.