Islamabad: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, while addressing the nation on Tuesday (April 14), announced a two-week extension to the ongoing countrywide lockdown; in addition to allowing for the reopening of several low-risk industries, according to news sources. The ban on public assemblies and educational institutes, however, will remain in effect for the time being.
He
expressed gratitude for the nation for respecting the restrictions ensued by
the lockdown and added that the prevailing coronavirus spread is 30% of the
estimated number of the cases.
However,
he went on to say that people shouldn’t ignore the risk and continue expressing
extreme caution. Khan further revealed that the government will announce an
incentive (stimulus) package for the construction industry to be promulgated
through ordinance today. He called it ‘the greatest incentive package of its
kind in Pakistan’s history’.
Regarding the opening of the construction sector, the premiere quoted Moody’s research that declares construction as one of the low-risk and high paying sector. Khan said there is a 98% consensus on which industries are to open however, he added, the provinces have their rights to further delay or resume industries based on their ground realities.
Federal Minister of Industries and Production Hammad Azahar announced a list of low-risk industries that are to resume under the international standards of World Health Organisation (WHO)-endorsed coronavirus prevention Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The minister said that supply chains have remained operational for industries producing daily essentials like fuel, banking, relief, agriculture, pharma. Ongoing developing situation to be reviewed accordingly.
The low-risk industries, allowed to reopen, are as follows:
Chemical manufacturing
E-commerce for export, e-commerce for local delivers
of essentials
Software and programming firms
Paper, stationery and packaging industries
Firms that operate with on-premise labourer
Cement industry
Fertilizer industry
Mines and minerals
Laundry and dry cleaners
Nurseries (Horticulture)
Agricultural equipment manufacturing industries
Glass manufacturing
Veterinary
Book shops, stationeries
All export industries – subjected
to confirmation of order from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan
(TDAP)
Azhar further said that the government will resume the construction sector in phases – in the initial level, the industries being reopened include brick kilns, stone crushers, pre-fabrication materials preparing units.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah, while commenting on the province’s ongoing lockdown situation (further extended till April 30) during a press briefing today, provided a tentative assessment that the construction work within the province will probably only be allowed till the gray structure finalisation stage.
Hazafa reveres the art of writing and has been turned into a property enthusiast by profession. Her daily survival kit includes; tea, coffee, keyboard and paperbacks.
