Govt decides to set up NCOC-type committee for construction sector

The government has devised a strategy to contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic keeping in view the country’s economic situation as well as the ground realities, said Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz while briefing media about the decisions taken by the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan. He said the government has been making efforts to save people’s lives and the economy simultaneously.He said at the outset, the prime minister told the meeting that the coronavirus pandemic has badly affected the national economy, and the government gave a special economic package for the construction sector. It has been decided to form a high-level committee under the Naya Pakistan Housing Authority like NCOC comprising representatives of federal and provincial governments, and relevant ministries and departments, which will ensure fast-track resolution of the construction sector’s problems on a daily basis, he said, and stressed the need to pay attention to the industrial sector so that the employment opportunities could be created for the youth. ShibliFaraz said the PTI government has a clear-cut policy to handle the pandemic from the day one.”First selected lockdowns were imposed while the NCOCwas constituted, which held meetings on daily basis to formulate policies on the basis of facts and figures. The NCOC took input from medical professionals, chief ministers, ministers and other experts before taking decisions on the future line of action,” he said. The minister said the cabinet was informed that when the first case of coronavirus was reported in the country, there were only two testing labs, which have now grown to 126 now. Similarly, in the end of February, only 2,800 ventilators were available, which have now increased to 4,800 while 1,400 more will be added in a few days, he said. “The country now has some 2,000 oxygen beds while 30,000 tests of coronavirus are being conducted on a daily basis,” he added. Shibli said some people are criticizing the government policy but they should realise that Pakistan cannot afford a long-term complete lockdown in order to save the poor segments of the society from hunger. The prime minister told the meeting that Pakistan’s economy and healthcare system cannot be compared to the United States or Europe, whose healthcare systems have even collapsed in the face of the coronavirus spike. The US government came to the conclusion that the lockdown is not the answer to contain the coronavirus spread. He said the cabinet was informed that when neighbouring India imposed a strict lockdown, there were only 635 confirmed cases but with easing of the restrictions, the number rose to 198,000. It indicated failure of the lockdown as 120 million Indians have lost jobs while a big portion of the population is facing starvation, he added. The prime minister said before easing the restrictions, the government issued the standard operating procedures (SOPs), advising the people to adopt precautionary measures, particularly to practice social distancing, who unfortunately ignored the directions especially during the Eid shopping.He urged the cabinet members to play a proactive role in the implementation of SOPs. If the people start following the SOPs, the cases can be reduced to half, he said. By adopting precautionary measures, the masses can help move the wheel of the economy and save the vulnerable from starvation, the prime minister added. Imran Khan told the meeting that the provinces have been given complete authority to impose the strict lockdown in the areas identified as hot spots of the virus. Moreover, fines and imprisonment would be awarded to the violators, Shiblisaid. He said in the next budget, special incentives had been given to the agriculture and construction sectors which could play a crucial role in the revival of the economy in coming months. He said the prime minister has issued directives for taking urgent steps for bringing back stranded Pakistani labourers in the Middle East countries.He said the cabinet was informed that the problem of shortage of petroleum products had been overcome, which are now available. The minister said the cabinet gave approval to the ECC decisions taken in its meeting on June10. It okayed ECC’s recommendation of continuing provision of risk allowance to health workers.The cabinet discussed the issue of high rise buildings near airports and deferred it till next meeting for further deliberations. Shibli said the cabinet approved constitution of a special fund for the remaining amount of Rs 1.2 trillion allocated for the corona relief activities so that the amount does not lapse and can be utilized in the next fiscal year.He said the cabinet also gave unanimous approval to the draft law for the protection of rights of children working as domestic help.