ISLAMABAD: National Security Council (NSC) meeting will review coronavirus situation in the country and will decide about imposition of national health emergency over the virus.
According to reports, Prime Minister Imran Khan has called meeting of NSC on March 13, after cases of coronavirus in Pakistan jumped in last few days.
This important meeting will be attended by Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Interior Minister Ijaz Shah, and Law Minister Farogh Naseem.
According to sources, Chiefs of armed forces and Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) will also attend the meeting.
National Health Services has requested government to impose national emergency over coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the federal government is making all-out efforts to play its role regarding developmental needs of Karachi and solution to the problems of the city.
Talking to Sindh Governor Imran Ismail here on Thursday, he said development of Karachi is development of the country. The Prime Minister directed the Sindh Governor to prepare a comprehensive plan of other development projects keeping in view needs and welfare of the people of Karachi.
During the meeting, matters related to the overall political situation of Sindh and ongoing federal government’s development projects were discussed. According to media reports, the Premier has also summoned a meeting on Friday to overview progress on the federal government funded development projects in the megacity.
Earlier on March 7, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the country’s progress is interlinked with the development of the metropolis. In a video message, PM Imran said that he could not reach Karachi to attend the inauguration of various development projects in the city owing to the bad weather conditions.
He said that the government was making all-out efforts for the development of Karachi and Sindh. On the occasion, PM Imran noted that after the 18th amendment, all the development funds have been transferred to the provinces.
Meanwhile, in a step to uplift industrial sector in the country, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday directed to take effective measures on war footing to boost small industries.
Presiding over a meeting to review the measures for the promotion of industrial sector in Islamabad, PM Imran ordered to ease laws for setting up new industrial units.
The prime minister has decided in principle to set up ‘value chain’ for the industrial sector. He urged the textile industry to introduce ‘Made in Pakistan’ brad at international level. He also directed to review the refund policy for the textile sector.
Earlier on March 3, in order to accelerate economic activities in the country, Prime Minister Imran Khan had said that the government was taking measures to boost Small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Presiding over a meeting of leading bankers and the government economic team, PM Imran Khan had said that revival of sick industrial units was among the top priorities of the government.
He had said that the main focus of the government was on ease of doing business in the country. The prime minister had maintained that they were working on various projects to help youth stand on their own feet and contribute to the country’s economic development. -NNI
NSC meeting today amid coronavirus spread in Pakistan
