PM Imran Khan Addresses Nation Over Coronavirus Situation, Warns of Increased Number of Deaths

PM Imran Khan on Thursday evening has addressed the nation over coronavirus situation.

In his televised address, PM Imran Khan stressed the implementation of the COVID-19 SOPs throughout the country.

The premier has said that he will monitor the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) across the country from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and direct provinces to submit daily reports in this regard.

“We will close down places that violate SOPs. All monitoring will be done from [PMO] and it will be closed, whether it be a shop, a mall, or a factory. If the virus is spreading in a neighbourhood, and people are not following rules, we will cordon off the area. The Tiger Force will help the administration with this.”

He added that the government had not been strict about it before because it did not have data “but now that it has, I will monitor, analyze, and enforce strictness in following SOPs”.

He further added that the government has also asked data managers in all hospitals to give it feedback so it could get “accurate data”.

“This is a difficult time. Nations that will come together and battle this, it will not be a that hard time for them,” he said.

“People need to know that it will spread if they don’t follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and that will increase the burden on hospitals.

“People need to understand that if we don’t follow SOPs and don’t take precautions, it will affect hospitals. We will place the lives of people who can be saved, the elderly in danger [by not following SOPs],” he added.

PM Imran Khan stressed said that the country was saved because a complete and extended lockdown was not enforced.

Referring to a recent international survey, he said that it showed that rich people were “not affected” by the pandemic. “I said this from day one, think of katchi abaadis and daily wagers. Why were we saved? Because we did not do a complete lockdown, we opened the construction sector early.”

He added that the way the government had distributed money was the reason why “Pakistan’s situation was not like India”.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the opposition wants the country’s economy to “fail so that they can criticize the government further”.

The premier also said that he was thankful that the situation in Pakistan is a lot better than the world.

He added that he was proud of his team which had provided guidance after consultations with doctors and experts.

“I have seen the way in which the world has battled it. I am proud of my team, they did a splendid analysis. We are very fortunate to have such people. We did not come under pressure,” he said.