ISLAMABAD: Science & Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Saturday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was striving hard to safeguard the economy from coronavirus outbreak.
Talking in a radio programme, he said under the supervision of the federal government, three main schemes were underway purely to facilitate the deserving.
“Over 16 million people have applied for a cash assistance package but only 4 million have been selected as others were unable to fulfil the criteria,” he added.
The minister said that all programmes initiated by the PTI government have “no political agenda, liking or disliking”, adding that payment would be made to deserving families through a transparent mechanism.
Lauding the PM’s recently announced relief package for the construction industry, Fawad said that this step would help create thousands of job opportunities in the country.
“With the reactivation of construction industries, many other allied industries will also start operations; sentries, tiles, paint, steel etc. rely on this industry.”
The minister maintained that the government’s decision would ensure massive relief for the masses, particularly under the current circumstances.
On a query, he said Pakistan has now started indigenous manufacturing of testing kits and sanitizers, and that these would be distributed throughout the country at a very low cost.
“The government is also motivating new graduates and researchers to come forward and help the government defeat COVID-19,” he added.
