Pakistan’s prime minister says country too poor for sustained lockdowns, urges citizens to donate to relief fund
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday urged Pakistanis to unite in the fight against the novel coronavirus, as he announced the formation of a volunteer force and a charitable fund to cater to the needs of the impoverished during lockdowns.
In a nationally televised speech, Khan said the entire world was struggling to overcome the spread of COVID-19, adding that China had thus far been the only country to successfully overcome it. He said Beijing had only been able to manage this feat by placing 20 million people under lockdown, which was not sustainable for a country like Pakistan. “If Pakistan was in a similar position as China, I would have shut down whole cities,” he said. However, he added, 25 percent of Pakistan’s population lives below the poverty line, while another 20 percent is on the edge.
In this scenario, said the prime minister, a lockdown could never succeed as people would lose their sources of income and have nothing to eat. “This virus does not differentiate between the rich and poor,” he warned. He also defended his decision to not proceed for lockdown by pointing to neighboring India, where he claimed P.M. Narendra Modi had been forced to apologize for imposing a nationwide curfew. However, Modi had merely apologized for the harsh nature of the restrictions, and said this was necessary to overcome the disease.
But while Pakistan lacks funds, “we have two other things,” said Khan. “The power of faith and [our] youth. We have faith that we can win it [fight against COVID-19] with unity and faith, one of the basic principles espoused by the father of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam, and we have the second-largest youth population in the world, which will be used to assist the government and administration to overcome the disease,” he said.
As part of this, Khan announced the establishment of the Corona Relief Tiger Force, a volunteer initiative that would work with the civil administration and Army to contain the spread of coronavirus. According to Khan, the Force would be deployed as needed to distribute food to impoverished placed under lockdown, and would also serve to raise awareness about the coronavirus and its preventative measures among the populace. Registration for the Force is now open via the Pakistan Citizen portal.
For those wishing to sign up, the iOS and Android apps for the Pakistan Citizen portal are located here:
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/pk/app/pakistan-citizens-portal/id1439885831
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.govpk.citizensportal&hl=en
The prime minister said a cell was working in the Prime Minister’s Office to monitor the ongoing situation. He said in a week’s time, the trends about the spread of the virus would become clear and the government would take further action as required. “We will go for a complete lockdown only when the government will be in a position to feed people at their homes,” he added.
Khan reiterated that the coronavirus was most dangerous to the elderly and people with compromised immunities, and urged people not to treat it as a social stigma. He also, once again, warned of strict action against hoarders and profiteers during this crisis.
The prime minister also announced the establishment of the Corona Relief Fund at the National Bank of Pakistan for charitable contributions to aid the fight against the virus. These contributions would be tax-free and tax incentives would be given to tax-filing persons, he said. The account would open for donations from tomorrow (April 1, 2020).
Khan said Pakistan had, thus far, allocated $8 billion for a coronavirus relief package, adding that this would be enhanced if required. He said the State Bank of Pakistan would give loans to industries on low markup so they would not exterminate any jobs.
Anyone wishing to donate to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund can do so using the following information:
Account No: 4162786786
Swift code: NBPAPKKAMBR
70 comments
In sha Allah we will soon overcome the crisis when sidaq and ikhlas there no one expect any more casualities of that pandemic We the civil society is on one page with PM Allah Bless You
Inshallah hum zaror jete ge me insaniat ke khidmet krna chahta ho
Butiful jobs
We will coperate with our government
hum aghang jatay gaya
I am Anesthesia Technician and i am jobless, i belong to a poor family and greatly need of this job, i live in mardan KP
Main Pakistan ke liye Kuchh karna chahta hun.or ma karachi se hui
chey
Its such a good job
Ma tiger force mai apply karna chata ho or karrbo ki maddah karna chata ho
Ma pak army k Shana ba Shana Corona k khilaf jang larna chahta hun
This is big step
I am interest tiger force
I want to serve the nation
ma tayar ho hidmt k liye
to phir ajao pakro.
I want to join tiger force plz
i am applay for tigar forse inshallah
Very good for poor families
i am ready for this job
Im joing corona Tigar fource
Help kare humere bhi
Mujhy b ana hy tiger force me
Sir jops ke liya parshan hu
Very good
i love pakistan
I am ready to join pm tiger force join now
Good
Am join tiger force
I Need Job for Tiger force
I WANT TO JOIN TIGER FORUS
Help for “Poor” People Anyting.
(My cell number 03030973103)
36601-5983949-7
i Worked At PM corona Force please admet it
I am join tigerforce
i am ready
I WANT TO JOIN TIGER FIRCE
I want to join carona relief force
Nice achievement PM pak, allah pak Kamyab ata kara,
suggestions to take care of daily wages labour and their useful out put of city cleanliness, building of hospitals etc in lieu of wages to them. Let’s hope it is adopted by govt in some way.
i want to be just human safe ..
Lazmi nahi hum army men ja kr watan ki khidmat kr sakty hein army watan ki hifazt krti hai humara haq hai keh humain army k sath mel kr as waqat humary watan ko humari zaroort hai hum kam krain aur insha Allah hum mushkil waqat men sath hein
ham tyaar he
Good jam Riaz wafa
is mushkil wqt me hm sb sath h inshaAllah hm zarur jeety ge
Me tiger force me shamil hona chata hun
میرا نام سبحان ہے صوابی شاہمنصور کا رہاشی ہو اگر پاکستان کو میری ضرورت ہو تو میں ہاضر ہوں
Mara nam Numan Abbas ha or m is achy kam my prime minister imran khan ki is force ka hisa bana chta hoo
Hum ready ha
Sir plz mujhy tigar fors mn muqa den mn kuom ky mdad krna chahta hn
GREAT JOB REALY ITS VERY HELPFUL FOR PAKISTANI’S
Mai apny mulak k lya kuch krna chahta hu.or ma tiger force mai shamil hona chahta hu…
My name umarfarooq tiger force ki apply karna chahta ho
Salaam I want to be the part of tiger force bcz in my village Budho Jeho poor and labours are dieing due to no rashan and no work..plz involve me in your force.District Larkana tehsil Ratodero village Budho Jeho near naudero city..
mera nam Mustansar Hussain ha ma Mandi BhawalDin ka rehaishi hu agr pakistan ko mari zarurat ho to ma hazar hu
mera man adnan Hassan ha ma mandi bhawaldin ka rehne wala hu ma pakistan tiger force ko join Karna chahta hu
I am ready for this job
I am join for Tighter force . mobile number 03105676334
Registration for tiger force shuld b easy as most of population is not using Android or iphones who are using didn’t know about portal moreover only one individual can apply from one id. It is suggested that it should be open on websites for easy approach of every one.
Hum es mushkil wqt ma ek sath hann
Nice article read my article also
https://tajassus.com/corona-relief-tiger-online-form-registration-and-applying-method/
I will do everything for my country. My country is my heart.
Ma apny mulak ka liya har waqt har mushkil sa larny k liya tayr hn
Mene application di thi crona relief tiger force me per ab Kuch pereshani ki waja se me ap ki application remove karwana Chahta ho
Agar mujy zarorat hy tiger force jabs ka laiy ma hazer ho
I want to serve for people. Want to join corona relief tiger force
I want to end my drug addiction I want to meet Imran Saab
Pm Sahab Aap bahut Acha kam kr rha Hain Allah ap hamesha kamyab kre
great job
Ye mera pakistan hain ispey jan bhi kurban hain
Hello Islam, with great politeness and respect.
Sir
Dear Prime Minister.
The request is that I belong to a poor family. My name is Mohammad Omar Rind son of Ghulam Nabi Rind. I had applied for the Tiger Force but I have not received any response yet. I also felt in the Emergency Program 8171. I have registered but he has also sent me a reply to the check so far. Sir, I request you to please give us a reply and tell us how long this check will last. Sir, the cnic for the distribution of rations to the Chairman. Submit but no response has been received from there yet.
I am a tailor in the head. Sir, my business has been closed for two months, my shop is closed, there is no other work, please help me.
Yours sincerely.
cnic
41304-1913858-5
phone #
03130376507