LAHORE: PML-N President and opposition leader in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif has directed party senators, MNAs, MPAs, office-holders and representatives of local governments to take an active part in relief and welfare activities with regard to Covid-19.

“Working together can sail us through this crisis. The challenge relates to our survival and national security,” Mr Sharif said while presiding over a party meeting through a video link here on Wednesday.

He said in this critical juncture the PML-N leaders and workers would have to play their role. He said the pandemic demanded that we should not give priority to politics and political interest. “We have to play the role of people’s servants and consume our energies to serve the masses in this testing time,” he said, adding the opposition had given a comprehensive national action plan to safeguard the country’s economy in the face of Covid-19.

“We have demanded imposition of financial emergency in the country. In the wake of the lockdown a comprehensive plan should be presented as how the essential items are to be provided to the people, especially the poor,” he said.

Shahbaz Sharif further said all opposition parties had endorsed the suggestions of the PML-N regarding challenges of the coronavirus and now these were being presented to the PTI government for implementation forthwith.

Asking the lawmakers and workers , Mr Sharif said they should visit their constituencies to determine people’s problems. “The PML-N men should maintain a data bank of the people who are in need of help.” He said the PML-N would force the government to take pro-people steps in this hour of need.

Those attended the meeting included Senator Mushahidullah Khan, Rana Sanaullah Khan, Khurram Dastgir, Awais Leghari, Khwaja Salman Rafique, Samiullah Khan, Azma Bokhari, Pervaiz Malik, Sheikh Rohail Asghar, Sheeza Fatima and Waheed Alam Khan.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2020