Shibli Faraz terms 18th Amendment hurdle in fight against Covid-19
The newly appointed Federal Information Minister Shibli Faraz on Friday termed the 18th Amendment hurdle in the fight against Covid-19.
He said that the 18th Amendment was a hurdle in preparing a uniform policy to fight the coronavirus across the country as after the amendment the federal government’s role in various spheres had been limited to issuing policy guidelines.
At his first press conference after assuming office, he said that “Not only Pakistan but the whole world is faced with an unprecedented challenge in the form of Covid-19 and collective response is required to meet it”.
“But the 18th Amendment has delegated the regulatory powers even over industries to the provinces and the federal government can only issue policy guidelines”, he further added.
“We have asked the provinces to develop their standard operating procedures for reopening the industrial sector,” he said and appealed to the people related to the industries and other sectors of society to take precautionary measures.
“The prime minister wants that the lockdown should be eased to some extent so that the country’s economy could grow,” he added. “Even the advanced economies cannot afford complete lockdown.”
“It is owing to the empathy of Prime Minister Imran Khan for the labourers that the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme has been launched in the wake of the pandemic under which Rs12,000 are being disbursed amongst them,” Senator Faraz added.
Replying to a question about the summoning of a parliamentary session, he said that “The government wants that the sessions of both the National Assembly and the Senate are held but it is vital to adopt precautionary measures”.
“We all know the conditions. Even National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has been diagnosed with Covid-19″, he further added.
