NCOC decides to maintain balance between ‘life and livelihood’

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday chaired a meeting of the National Coordination Committee at Islamabad and reviewed, in detail, the COVID-19 situation in the country.

It decided to continue pursuing the policy of maintaining balance between life and livelihood while ensuring strict implementation of SOPs to contain spread of virus.

It was decided during the meeting to issue a negative list of businesses that would remain suspended in the effort to check further spread of the disease. However, a recommended list of businesses and commercial activities, unanimously agreed upon by the federal government and the federating units, would be circulated to industry allowing them to resume their activities.

Due to uncertainty about the life and spread of virus, it was reiterated during the meeting that “we have to learn to live with COVID, however, SOPs would be implemented to check the spread of virus.”

The PM decided that stranded Pakistanis abroad, who are mostly the working classes and laborers would not be left unattended during these testing times and special flights would be operated to bring them back to the country.

PM Khan directed that every effort must be made to facilitate them in their travel and on arrival ensuring that all passengers are quickly tested at the airports.

The meeting paid special tributes to the healthcare staff for their invaluable services in saving precious human lives. The Prime Minister directed that all possible facilitation including provision of personal protective equipment and other facilities be ensured to the healthcare workers who are frontline soldiers in the fight against Corona virus.

The PM also appreciated use of technology and resource management system for ensuring optimum utilization of the healthcare facilities and providing the people with accurate information and easy access to the available health facilities.

PM Khan`  also appreciated Testing, Tracking and Quarantine strategy that has been developed to effectively test, track and isolate the affected patients.

The participants including all the Chief Ministers pledged their commitment in pursuing the decisions taken during the meeting of National Coordination Committee and doing every bit to make the public aware of measures to deal with the COVID and fight it together at the national level.