Islamabad: Advisor to the Prime Minister (PM) on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam on Monday launched the pilot phase of the ‘Pakistan COVID-19 Urban Slums Response Programme’ (PCUSRP) to facilitate urban slum dwellers amid the going COVID-19 pandemic situation, a news source reported.
Amin Aslam said that the initiative was formulated to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in urban slums and assist the communities in reducing its economic repercussions. The PCUSRP initiative was launched at the Climate Change Ministry. The pilot phase of the initiative will be executed in Dhok Mangal and Dhok Hassu slum areas in Rawalpindi.
Amin Aslam spoke during the launching ceremony about the unhygienic situation in the slum areas and lauded UN-Habitat and other non-governmental partners who assisted the initiative. He informed that the Climate Change Ministry would initiate fundraising campaigns through the National Disaster Management Fund (NDMA) and donor organisations to extend the initiative to the rest of the country.
The initiative includes the installation of hand-washing machines, checking body temperatures through laser guns, distribution of gloves, masks, and sanitizers, and spraying disinfectants in the hotspots among others. It will also create employment opportunities by involving the local communities in producing gloves, masks, and related activities.
