PM orders Rangers to ensure goods transport in Sindh.

The federal government on Tuesday ordered Rangers to ensure that the National Coordination Committee's (NCC) decision to lift ban on the movement of goods transport was implemented in Sindh, as the Centre and the provincial government remain at loggerheads over the issue amid the coronavirus outbreak.

'The prime minister has expressed his displeasure in strong words over the fact that despite the NCC's decision to keep transport lines open for essential goods in all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the Sindh government has not implemented the decision,' Special Assistant to the PM on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said at a news conference after a meeting of the federal cabinet.

'The cabinet was told that unfortunately [the NCC] decisions were not implemented in their true spirit in Sindh,' she added.

The PM's aide said all imports and exports took place at the port in Sindh and exporters are facing several challenges because of the administrative measures, lockdown and ban on goods transport in the province.

'The prime minister has directed Rangers to immediately remove all hindrances so that the supply chain is not affected.'

The special assistant further said the federal cabinet had reviewed and approved an economic stimulus package worth Rs1.2 trillion announced earlier by the premier.

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'The prime minister has shared his plan of action against COVID-19 with cabinet members saying that his number one agenda was to save economy from the negative impact of the pandemic.'

The PM's aide said the cabinet while discussing the country's measures to deal with the expected economic fallout because of the viral outbreak had formally approved the relief package.

'The prime minister and the cabinet reiterated that the government has to save people from the pandemic and also ensure that their fundamental rights were not affected because of hunger and unemployment.'

During the cabinet meeting, she added, 'white elephants' like the Pakistan Railways and the Pakistan International Airlines were given deadlines to complete their reforms as the country was passing through a period of emergency and there was a dire need to reduce the burden on the national exchequer.

The ministries have also been directed to share all the information on their official websites as it would not only enhance transparency but ensure people had access to the information as per the right to information...