Asad Omar stresses need for joint efforts of nation to face challenge of COVID-19 pandemic.

ISLAMABAD -- Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Omar has stressed the need for joint efforts of the nation to face the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic.

Briefing media, after the meeting of National Command and Control Centre, in Islamabad on Thursday, flanked with Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Syed Shibli Faraz, Asad Umar said federal and provincial governments are jointly working to cope with the Coronavirus pandemic.

He said federal government is extending its full support to provinces in acquiring oxygen beds for the Coronavirus affected people. He expressed the belief that 2150 oxygen beds will be provided by the end of next month.

The Planning Minister said lockdown strategy about corona hotspots in 20 cities of has been shared with the provinces. He said implementation of this strategy has started in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir, while its implementation in Balochistan will begin in one or two days.

Asad Umar said the NCOC meeting discussed implementation on standard operating procedure to prevent the spread of the contagion, along with administrative measures in this regard.

Meanwhile Asad Omar said the government wants to expedite the...