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PM Imran Khan says free media must for democracy

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Friday that independent media is necessary for democracy.

He said that the independent media has a crucial role in democracy, as it worked as a watchdog and if he was sincere, he would take action against a minister, pointed out to be involved in corrupt practices.

He said that criticism in Pakistan is based on mala fide intention as it is not always a constructive one. He said if the criticism is based on mala fide intentions, the people would also understand it. He said that his government would prove that it stands by the responsible media and no democracy could function without a free media.

The National Coordination Committee (NCC) Friday decided to allow movement of goods transport, ensuring a smooth supply chain of edible items in view of the lockdown. Like Sindh, the shops would be restricted to be close down at 8:00pm.

The corona patients in Punjab have crossed the number of patients in Sindh. He said that there would no increase in gas tariffs. To this effect, the committee met here with the prime minister in the chair. The forum had a detailed overview of the situation arising out of the coronavirus pandemic in the country and the related measures and their repercussions and impact.

The prime minister announced the decisions of the committee and had an interaction with media persons as well. He was optimistic that the war against the virus would be won with a united resolve of the nation and prudent and timely decisions. He said those arrested by the police during the lockdown be set free, as people were facing difficult times.

He emphasized that incremental response was essential because of the peculiar circumstances of Pakistan and the virus is a new phenomenon and time is required to come up with well-thought-out decisions and strategies to deal with the challenge.

The prime minister again said total lockdown is not feasible keeping in view the condition of the poor people in the country and he had in his mind a plan to first put up a structure to provide much-needed relief to the weak segments of the society, who are to be hard hit by the lockdown, including vendors and daily wagers.

About the goods transport decision, he said today all the four provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan collectively decided that there would be no inter-provincial restriction on transportation of goods. Likewise, the industry allied with edible items would also be free from any kind of restriction as well but passenger traffic would remain suspended.

The prime minister announced to form a youth force of volunteers titled the Corona Relief Tigers Force (CRTF) to distribute food at homes of weak segments of the society. He explained its members would be recruited through PM Office Citizen Portal and registration would start from March 31.

Through data, relief items would be provided to the poor people and the relief force tigers would also identify such people and be tasked to provide food to the areas, hard hit by the virus. However, a mechanism would be put in place to avoid duplication with the deployment of the force. The meeting also decided to give necessary training to the health practitioners, initially those engaged in ICUs or dealing with emergency cases.

The prime minister said that as compared to even advanced countries, the virus had not spread fast in the country. However, he hastened to add that there could be no guarantee that after two weeks, the virus cases would not suddenly increase and preparedness was necessary for the worst situation and the government would try its best to contain it with the cooperation of masses.

Moreover, the prime minister also announced the establishment of a PM fund for coronavirus, wherein charity funds could be deposited to be spent on those affected by the crisis while the Ehsaas Programme would continue providing relief to people. The prime minister said Rs12,000 would be given to the poor people for the next four months and the government would weigh options on how to provide further relief to them.

He would open an account at the State Bank of Pakistan next week and overseas Pakistanis would be requested to deposit their amounts there so as to giving a boost to foreign exchange reserves and lessening pressure on Pak rupee, which was already there.

Replying to questions from journalists, the prime minister said that he feared there could be a greater danger than the virus and it was taking decisions in panic and when people would go for more buying and storage of items, the prices could also go up beside shortage of the same.