Govt decides to set up NCOC-type committee for construction sector.

ISLAMABAD: The government has devised a strategy to contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic keeping in view the country's economic situation as well as the ground realities, said Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz while briefing media about the decisions taken by the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

He said the government has been making efforts to save people's lives and the economy simultaneously.He said at the outset, the prime minister told the meeting that the coronavirus pandemic has badly affected the national economy, and the government gave a special economic package for the construction sector. It has been decided to form a high-level committee under the Naya Pakistan Housing Authority like NCOC comprising representatives of federal and provincial governments, and relevant ministries and departments, which will ensure fast-track resolution of the construction sector's problems on a daily basis, he said, and stressed the need to pay attention to the industrial sector so that the employment opportunities could be created for the youth.

ShibliFaraz said the PTI government has a clear-cut policy to handle the pandemic from the day one."First selected lockdowns were imposed while the NCOCwas constituted, which held meetings on daily basis to formulate policies on the basis of facts and figures. The NCOC took input from medical professionals, chief ministers, ministers and other experts before taking decisions on the future line of action," he said.

The minister said the cabinet was informed that when the first case of coronavirus was reported in the country, there were only two testing labs, which have now grown to 126 now. Similarly, in the end of February, only 2,800 ventilators were available, which have now increased to 4,800 while 1,400 more will be added in a few days, he said. "The country now has some 2,000 oxygen beds while 30,000 tests of coronavirus are being conducted on a daily basis," he added.

Shibli said some people are criticizing the government policy but they should realise that Pakistan cannot afford a long-term complete lockdown in order to save the poor segments of the society from hunger.

The prime minister told the meeting that Pakistan's economy and healthcare system cannot be compared to the United States or Europe, whose healthcare systems have even collapsed in the face of the coronavirus spike. The US government came to the conclusion that the lockdown is not...