ISLAMABAD: *Pakistan has not received any financial assistance yet from any country over coronavirus pandemic, reveals PM Imran Khan. *
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that Pakistan has not received any financial assistance from any country or global organisation despite the coronavirus outbreak in the country which has infected more than 11,500 people and claimed over 240 lives.
During a meeting with social media influencers and journalists, he said the situation developing after the pandemic is a big test for the entire world and Pakistan.
He said that Pakistan’s economy was badly hit by the pandemic and despite severe hardships, no country or global organisation lent even a single dollar, adding that only International Monetary Fund (IMF) gave relief in repayment of loans.
However, he added, the situation was different in the country than Europe and the United States.
The premier said that the underprivileged were the hardest hit by lockdowns whereas the remittances from overseas Pakistanis have also stopped. “I did not want to impose the lockdown as it would increase the miseries of the labourers and daily wagers. 75% of them are not even registered,” he added.
The PM also announced a “track and trace system” for coronavirus cases which will be introduced throughout the country with the help of the country’s premier spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
He added that the system will help in identifying areas where there were numerous coronavirus cases.
“We will lock down those areas where there are [numerous] coronavirus cases whereas business in other areas will be kept open,” he said.