QWP for joint struggle to deal coronavirus

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Chairman Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said on Sunday that the Covid-19 outbreak was an international issue therefore the government and other stakeholders, including the political parties would have to come up with a joint strategy to deal with this issue.

According to a statement issued from Watan Kor, he said that all the political parties would have to rise above the political divide to fight this pandemic.

Expressing concern over the rising number of coronavirus cases in the coutnry, he said the government would have to make a joint National Action Plan to stem the spread of this deadly virus.

He stressed that measures should be taken to minimize the effects of this disaster on the economy besides providing maximum relief to the people particularly the ones belonging to the downtrodden segments of the society.

Aftab Shrepao asked the federal government to announce Rs15 billion financial package for each province so that the federating units could arrange food and other necessary items for the poor people in all the districts.

He said the government should also consider giving relief to the people in the petroleum, gas and electricity as the measures put in place to defeat the coronavirus had hit the people economically.

Aftab Sherpao stressed that the government should provide testing kits to the provinces in addition to arranging the protective gears and other necessary equipment for the hospitals including ventilators. He added that the testing kits should also be made available to the district headquarters hospitals in the districts. 

He also stressed the need for ensuring the availability of all the food items in the market.

The QWP leader asked the government to provide the April salary to the government employees well in time.

He also urged the people to avoid holding unnecessary gatherings and said that the people should exercise social distancing in order to avoid spreading the virus.