ISLAMABAD:The government has so far distributed Rs35 billion among 28, 68,000 poor deserving families under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme. This was stated by Minister for Planning Asad Umar while briefing media along with Special Assistant on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza and Special Assistant on National Security Division Moeed Yusuf here on Wednesday.
He said besides Coronavirus, the government is fighting war at different fronts including poverty, hunger and weak economy. He said the public health is the top priority of the incumbent government under prevailing Coronavirus situation, and the government is taking decisions while keeping in view all ground realities to steer the country out of prevailing Coronavirus situation.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Zafar Mirza said total number of Coronavirus cases in Pakistan has soared to 5,988 with Punjab 2945, Sindh 1518, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 865, Balochistan 240, Islamabad 140, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 46, and Gilgit-Baltistan 234.
He said so far 1,500 patients have recovered, 44 people are in critical condition, while 107 patients have died so far. He said during the last 24 hours, 3,280 tests were conducted, out of which 272 cases were declared positive, while 11 deaths were reported from various parts of the country.
He said although, the government has decided to operationalize construction industry, yet labourers and workers need to exercise utmost care while working in industries. In his remarks, Moeed Yusuf said repatriation of Pakistani prisoners and laborers stranded in different countries is a key priority of the government and six airports have been made operational in this regard.
He expressed the confidence that 2,000 passengers stranded in different countries, including UAE, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Oman, will be brought back to their homeland till Saturday. Moeed Yusuf further informed that 41 Pakistanis will be brought back from India through Wagha border tomorrow. He said the government is also making a comprehensive strategy to bring back Pakistanis stranded in Afghanistan.