COVID-19 cases.

The prime minister said though the curve of COVID-19 cases was surging in Pakistan, the ratio was not as alarming as in other countries and for that the people must thank Allah Almighty during the holy month of Ramazan.

He was accompanied by his team members including Planning Minister Asad Umar, Industries Minister Hammad Azhar, Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, National Security Advisor Moeed Yousuf and SAPM Sania Nishtar.

Imran Khan said being a responsible nation, the people must not let the poor face the burden of the crisis alone rather share it collectively.

'This is time we act as responsible citizens and follow the SOPs. The countries releasing lockdown, have also announced some guidelines to be followed by the people.'

He said the government had already announced unprecedented relief packages for the construction industry as well as poor and unemployed people but it could not keep it up for long owing to already not-so-good economic condition of the country.

The prime minister said the government had spent its revenue on relief packages and facing 35 percent reduction in tax receipts besides decline in exports.

He said though the government's relief package was far better than that of India yet it could not financially support every individual for long.

The government was receiving requests from restaurants and other sectors for opening as they were unable to bear any more loss.

He said the government had remarkably reduced oil prices bringing it to the lowest in the sub continent which would also help reduce the burden on the people.

He said soon after reporting of first coronavirus case in Pakistan, the government had announced lockdown across the country, closing all educational institutions and businesses...