- We have decided to open up the construction industry and will give it necessary incentives: Imran Khan
- Pakistan strongly condemns Indian govt’s attempt to ‘illegally’ alter IOK demography: PM
ISLAMABAD, April 2: The National Coordination Committee on Thursday decided to open work on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.
The meeting held with Prime Minister Imran Khan in chair reviewed overall situation of coronavirus in the country.
The prime minister was apprised about the health condition of pilgrims who had returned from Taftan. He was informed that many of those who contracted the disease have recovered.
Following the decision to open work on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, the construction industry will be opened from April 3, while PM Imran Khan will also announce a massive package for the construction industry to maintain the economic activity important to deal with the coronavirus challenge. According to sources, the prime minister’s economic team has completed consultation on the relief package and an advisory has been issued to the provinces for the transportation of labour related to industry in this regard.
The committee also decided to issue an advisory regarding Friday prayer and Taraweeh, while the local administration will take decision keeping in view the situation.-APP
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said a massive package for the construction industry will be announced tomorrow to maintain the economic activity important to deal with the coronavirus challenge.
He was addressing a ceremony in connection with distribution of one hundred billion rupees tax refunds amongst the businessmen in Islamabad on Thursday.
He said we have decided to open up the construction industry and give it the necessary incentives in order to provide job opportunities to the people. He said this will also uplift the industries allied with the construction.
He said that the construction of road infrastructure does not entail the danger of the spread of coronavirus. He said necessary SOPs will also be developed to ensure the safety of the workers at the workplace.
Imran Khan said the commerce ministry has also framed a list of industries which can be opened in the current situation. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that trajectory of coronavirus in Pakistan is not like that has been witnessed in other countries.
He was confident that Pakistan will able to overcome this problem. He stressed that the people should avoid going to the gatherings and adopt precautionary measures to stem the pandemic.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan strongly condemns the Indian government’s continued attempts to “illegally” alter the demography in occupied Kashmir.
He was referring to the new domicile law introduced by the Indian government in occupied Kashmir, which allows an Indian citizen who has resided in occupied Jammu and Kashmir for 15 years to call the territory his or her place of domicile.
Through a gazette notification issued by the Indian government on Wednesday, a domiciled person has been defined as one who has resided for a period of 15 years in the occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir or has studied for a period of seven years and appeared in class 10 or 12 examination in an educational institution located there.
The prime minister in a post on Twitter said that the new domicile law was in “violation of all international laws and treaties”.
Calling the timing of the move “particularly reprehensible”, he said the action sought to exploit the international focus on the Covid-19 pandemic to further the Bharatiya Janata Party’s “Hindutva” agenda.-APP/DNA
