Prime Minister Imran Khan has rejected a proposal to impose a complete lockdown in Lahore, reiterating that it would disproportionately affect the poor.
Prime Minister Imran was addressing the media in Lahore on Saturday, after which he chaired a meeting on coronavirus measures in the province.
The government decided against imposing a complete lockdown at the meeting and agreed to ensure strict implementation of SOPs under which masks will be made mandatory for everyone and if there are complaints of breach of security protocol. Strict action will be taken if received.
The Prime Minister said that there was a strong impression that a complete lockdown was being imposed in Lahore and ruled out any possibility of such a move.
'Imposing a lockdown means shutting down the economy,' he said.
The prime minister said that instead a "smart lockdown" would be implemented, under which the hotspot would be identified and closed.
Prime Minister Imran said the Corona Relief Tiger Force would recruit more volunteers and help the government ensure compliance with the rules.
The Prime Minister said that "smart lockdown" is the only option for the country, and that if Pakistan was a rich country, it would be an option to impose lockdown.
"The mayor of New York, the richest city in the world, is saying that it is going bankrupt," he said, adding that if such a catastrophic situation were to occur in an American city. Yes, then what can happen in Pakistan?
He lamented that people were not taking the epidemic seriously.
'I am sorry to say that the public aren't just following SOPs. They think there's no such thing as a coronavirus and they don't know anyone who has the disease'" he said. "People think nothing will happen to them.'
The Prime Minister warned that the country would go through a very difficult phase if the SOPs were not implemented.
'If we are allowing you to resume activities, then it is your responsibility to follow the guidelines,' he said.
Making fee masks mandatory for all, the Prime Minister warned that stern action would be taken against those who violated the rules.
The Prime Minister said that the government expects July to be a difficult month.
'I will also visit other provinces. From now on, I will personally monitor the situation and check the compliance of SOPs with the Prime Minister's Office,' he said. They will also take pit.
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