LAHORE : Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday appealed the nation to act on the directives issued by the incumbent government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in order to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the Opposition Leader in National Assembly said that Pakistan is facing the biggest challenge of coronavirus but we have to fight it by keeping ourselves clean. “We should avoid doing politics on the current scenario and also refrain from using such words which can divide the nation,” he requested. Shehbaz said that he was in London with his ailing brother Nawaz Sharif and decided to return back to Pakistan after witnessing a surge in coronavirus cases.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has extended prayers to the nation, he told. Shehbaz said that said this is not the time to do politics. “We need to come together at this time and play our part in combating the virus. The political leadership had called for a lockdown but it did not happen,” he remarked. He said Pakistan and nation had faced bigger challenges in past and will overcome of this coronavirus pandemic as well. “Today, the number of cases in the country stands at 892 and seven people have died so far from the novel coronavirus. A positive case has also been reported in a Lahore prison,” said Shehbaz in his presser via video link.
The PML-N president said he stands with the families of those who have passed away from the disease. He urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to summon a session of the Council of Common Interests. Appreciating the Punjab government, he remarked: “It is good to see the provinces taking action and enforcing the lockdown. Punjab government did the right thing.” “Time demands that we turn this challenge into an opportunity and face this crisis jointly,” he remarked. While putting forward demands in the wake of the prevailing situation, Shehbaz Sharif has requested the government to increase doctor’s salary and demanded to provide kits to doctors, nurses and paramedics. “Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government should make coronavirus tests free of cost for the common man,” he said, adding that PML-N has decided to provide 10,000 protective kits to doctors across Punjab. He appealed the nation to follow the guidelines given to them by the incumbent government in order to combat the spread of COVID-19.
The PML-N president hoped that the government will take timely steps to contain the virus. “We have to fight this disease and deteriorating economy at the same time,” he stated. The federation should decrease the oil prices by Rs 70 to Rs 80 and financially help the daily wagers. There must be sufficient number of ventilators at hospitals to handle the situation, he went on to say. About Taftan debacle, the former Punjab chief minister said if protocols had been followed, the situation would not have deteriorated. “If there had been proper testing, quarantine, isolation centres, then this outbreak would not have happened in Pakistan,” he said. The Opposition Leader has urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to urgently summon a session of the Council of Common Interests on the issue. Shehbaz Sharif had returned to Pakistan on Sunday after a four-month-long stay in London.
