PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday called for a joint session of Parliament to discuss the novel coronavirus issue as it is spreading in Pakistan with total 21 cases so far.

“I fear that around 30 to 40% of the people are infected by the virus,” Abbasi said while adding “I also fear that coronavirus will engulf both economy and the people.” He said that only Sindh and Balochistan seem to have taken proactive steps against this emergency.

Criticising the government during the National Assembly session, the PML-N leader said “Coronavirus is not the individuals’ issue, it’s a national matter of concern,” and added, “the government has not been taking this issue seriously.”

Abbasi said that they will have to take serious and practical steps to tackle the deadly coronavirus that is causing havoc in the world, and led the World Health Organization to declare it a pandemic. The PML-N leader said that they should make the people aware of the coronavirus so it could be avoided.

Following Shahid Khaqan’s address, Federal Minister Shafqat Mehmood said “Coronavirus is not only Pakistan’s problem, but it is also a global concern,” and added that the government has called a National Security Committee meeting on Friday (today). The move drew a rare appreciation from PML-N’s Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who praised the prime minister for calling the NSC meeting.

Speaking further on the matter, the minister said “Different countries are tackling the pandemic differently,” and added that the PTI government is doing everything to stop the spread of the virus.

On his turn, PPP leader Raja Pervez Ashraf also expressed concern over the growing spread of coronavirus and called for immediate actions at the government level to stop its spread.

Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser also appealed the nation to pray collectively as it is Friday today.