Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the government will provide financial assistance to those who went jobless in the wake of the lockdowns.

While announcing the website under Ehsaas Programme in Islamabad on Saturday, the prime minister said “Those people who were doing jobs in shops or restaurants and went jobless due to the lockdown will now be able to register themselves under this programme.”

However, the PM said that the only requirement is that such people will have to prove their claim by mentioning about the place where they were doing job, and the duration of their layoff.

In addition, PM Imran thanked all those donors who funded in the PM Corona Relief Fund, and assured them the best use of their philanthropic deed. “I’m personally overseeing the fund and assure you that each penny will be spent with complete transparency, and there will be a thorough audit for you to know where your money was spent.”

Pointing to the donors, the PM further said “Let me tell you that against each rupee you have given, the government will add four times the amount as we realise that the assistance should be extended to the optimal level.”

However, the PM admitted that it is not humanly possible to reach every person in need, “So that now we’re considering reopening of business.” While giving examples from Europe and the US, the worst-hit countries by the coronavirus, the PM said “See New York, where 1,000 people were dying in a single day, they too have decided to open their industry.”

More than once, PM Imran reiterated the significance of the incumbent government’s decision to give special packages. “I repeat we have given unprecedented exemptions and packages to the construction industry.”

The PM also found the opportunity to reiterate the government’s recent relief over petroleum products, saying “As we want to alleviate the miseries of the people amid the crisis, we have reduced the petroleum prices that are lowest throughout the sub-continent.”

“Within a month only, we have reduced Rs 30 per litre petrol price, in addition to 42 on diesel, and 45 on kerosene oil.”

“During the last three weeks, we have spent around Rs 81 billion under Ehsaas Programme.”

However, the PM said that the most immediate care of the government is to alleviate people’s miseries in the wake of the lockdowns.

While including the Tiger Force in this programme, the PM said he realizes many people will face difficulty, “So, I have decided to utilize our Tiger Force to assist people in registering on the website to claim financial benefits.”

He instructed the Tiger Force to establish desks in each union council for this purpose.

Meanwhile, Sania Nishtar the PM’s Assistant on Povery Alleviation gave a presentation to the audience depicting the use of the website portal.

At the end, the PM reiterated some pieces of advice with which he usually concludes the debate, “We don’t know when the virus will go, maybe it will take six months or an year before any vaccine is invented,” and continued, “So, for now the only cure is the shared responsibility. We have to jointly tackle the virus, and that can happen only when the people support and follow the instructions.”

He said the people need to ensure social distancing, and those who test positive should isolate themselves at their homes.

While referring to the situation in the quarantine centres where the patients are strictly kept under the isolations, PM Imran said, “It is a strange situation that police is required to stop the COVID-19 patients,” regretting that it does not happen in responsible societies as people should realise themselves that they have to isolate themselves voluntarily.