ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday decided to form a joint parliamentary committee of treasury and opposition members to seek opposition’s support in the fight against novel coronavirus.

The prime minister made the decision in a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser at Prime Minister House.

“Regarding the coronavirus situation and its control, the formation of a joint parliamentary committee of the government and the opposition was also agreed during the meeting,” said a statement released by the Prime Minister Office.

Opposition support to be sought to achieve goal

According to the statement, in order to check the spread of coronavirus in the country and protect the people and economy from its effects, the prime minister said the government was in contact with international institutions and it would utilise all resources to provide relief to the masses.

During the meeting, the speaker exchanged views about the coronavirus situation in the country and the measures being taken at government level to curb the deadly virus.

The prime minister said China’s cooperation with Pakistan to check the coronavirus was laudable. “Instead of getting into fear, the people should focus on taking precautionary measures against the coronavirus,” the prime minister was quoted as saying.

It has been learned that the speaker has been tasked to hold meetings with the opposition to recommend names for the joint parliamentary committee. The speaker said that all political parties were united on the national issue. He was confident that the spread of the virus would be contained through the measures initiated by the government. tain the virus. He urged both federal and provincial governments to work together in this regard.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2020