ISLAMABAD – Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting SenatorShibli Faraz Friday said the welfare of workers and labourers had alwaysremained the topmost priority of the government.
Even before the coronavirus outbreak, their welfare was the main focus ofthe government’s planning under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, hesaid while addressing his maiden news conference after assuming charge ofthe office.
The information minister said considering the difficulties of the labourersand the daily wagers due to the lockdown imposed in the aftermath of theoutbreak of coronavirus, the government announced a fiscal stimulus packageand allocated an amount of Rs 200 billion for the poor segments of thesociety.
Under the Ehsaas Cash Emergency Programme, Rs 12,000 was being distributedamong every deserving family, including the labourers, he added.
Shibli Faraz said after coming to power, the prime minister took practicalsteps for the betterment of workers and the homeless by opening shelterhomes and Langar Khanas. Moreover they were provided health cover byissuance of Insaf Health Cards.
He said the Federal Government adopted the concept of smart lockdown underthe vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to protect the daily wagers andlabourers from the impacts of coronavirus.
The country, he said, could not afford a complete lockdown due to theeconomic situation and even the developed states were also opting for thesmart lockdown to keep their economic wheels running.
Now there was a realization on the importance of striking a balance betweenthe lockdown and revival of economic activities to save the vulnerablesegments of the society from hunger and starvation, he added.
The strategy was being finalized for reopening of the industrial sector, hesaid, appealing to the people related to the industries to takeprecautionary measures.The prime minister wanted that the lockdown should be eased to some extentso that the country’s economy could grow, he added.
To a question, the minister said consultations with the opposition forfinalizing standard operating procedures to summon the session ofParliament were at advanced stage.
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He said the government wanted holding the sessions of both the NationalAssembly and the Senate, but it was vital to adopt precautionary measuresin the given situation when NA Speaker Asad Qaiser had been diagnosed withthe coronavirus.
He said it was important to call the sessions of two houses of theparliament as approval of certain bills, which were going to lapse, wasnecessary.
The opposition was a part and parcel of the political system and thegovernment welcomed its constructive criticism which proved helpful inimproving the standard of governance and transparency. The oppositionshould play its role within the realm of democratic norms and values, heremarked.
As regard the situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, theinformation minister said the government had effectively highlighted thelingering dispute, and the plight of besieged Kashmiris since Indiaunilaterally revoked the autonomous status of the state in August lastyear, at the world forums, including the United Nations.
He said Prime Minister Imran Khan had raised his voice regarding Kashmir onall relevant forums and his speech in the General Assembly on the issue hadbecome part of the history.
Replying to a question, Shibli Faraz said it was the prime minister’sprerogative to change his team members keeping in view the situation andinterest of the country. He expressed the commitment to transform theInformation Ministry as per the modern requirements, and enhance itsoutreach to project the national interests and the country’s image.
To a question, he said the policy was being formulated for the bettermentof media workers and payment of outstanding dues to the media houses werebeing done on war footing. However under the policy, the payment ofoutstanding salaries to the media workers by media houses management wouldbe ensured.
