Would have never allowed such lockdown if consulted by provinces: PM.

ISLAMABAD -- Prime Minister Imran Khan has once again ruled out the possibility of lockdown due to coronavirus and said that he would never had allowed provinces to implement such lockdown if consulted.

He was speaking at the ceremony for commencement of three Ehsaas initiatives, including Ehsaas Rashan Portal, Ehsaas Langar and Panagah App and PM s COVID-19 Relief Fund website, in Islamabad today.

Imran Khan said that we have to protect our people from coronavirus as well as from poverty. Government wants people to open businesses under the SOPs.

He said that the government has implemented smart lockdown in Coronavirus hotspots of the country to protect mainly the most vulnerable people.

The Prime Minister said the elderly people and those already suffering from serious diseases are the most vulnerable people, and if they are protected against Coronavirus, the impact of the pandemic will get considerably reduced. He said the next one month is difficult for dealing with the pandemic.

Imran Khan said Ehsaas program and the government s policy of easing the lockdown have helped lessen the effect of the COVID-19. He said in India, the complete lockdown has severely affected the poverty-stricken people and made about 34 percent people either hungry or prone to diseases.

The Prime Minister said PM s Coronavirus Relief Fund has been established to financially help...