ISLAMABAD : Taking notice of the prolonged power outages in Karachi making life difficult for people, PM Imran took notice of the incident and asked Asad Umar and Governor Sindh Imran Ismail to meet the K-Electric leadership to resolve the crisis, on Thursday.
Both the governor and the prime minister discussed the overall situation in Sindh, particularly related to the COVID-19. The governor Sindh also spoke highly of the prime minister’s vision and successful strategy to combat the coronavirus in the country.
Meanwhile, the prime minister appealed to the nation to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with simplicity, strictly observing the standard operating procedures (SOPs) against the coronavirus. He was talking to reporters after inaugurating the state-of-the-art 250-bed Isolation Hospital and Infectious Treatment Centre here, which has been completed in record 40 days at the cost of about Rs980 million.
Imran urged people not to resort to carelessness shown during the Eid-ul-Fitr last year and strictly observe the SOPs this year, as the virus would spread fast if people gathered in large number. “Since we were careless, the virus spread very fast and as a result, pressure on our hospitals was massive and the frontline doctors and nurses also faced so much pressure. Unfortunately, we also lost lives,” he explained.
The virus, he noted, peaked and afterwards, the government took measures, including the smart lockdown, and with the blessings of Allah Almighty, the virus curve was coming down now. “We are also not expecting that infections will come down so fast, as we think the virus would peak by July end,” he maintained.
The prime minister cautioned that any carelessness during Eid-ul-Azha would lead to a fresh spike in the coronavirus cases. However, he expressed satisfaction that with the cooperation of all the departments concerned, the curve of coronavirus cases in the country was on the decline. He said the smart lockdown had yielded positive results. The premier said the government had come up with SOPs about how to sacrifice animals this year.
“I appeal to the entire nation to observe Eid with simplicity for the sake of your country, its economy, and especially the elderly. If we take care now, then we can manage, God willing, to come out of this pandemic better than other countries,” he said.
Commending the completion of a modern isolation hospital in a record short period, the prime minister said important tasks could be completed with political will.