PM of Pakistan warns on continual of coronavirus crisis for months as toll reaches to over 16,000

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday warned that the coronavirus crisis could continue for months and lockdown was not a solution to the pandemic, as the total number of the COVID-19 infections rose to 16,117 with 358 deaths so far in the county.

"We don't know if the current situation will continue for six months or a year," Khan said while addressing the media along with his top advisors. "I know that the worst hit due to the lockdown will be poor."

Khan said the government so far disbursed 81 billion rupees among 6.6 million deserving



families under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme.

He said the third category of the programme covered all provinces and Sindh was given the maximum relief funds under the Ehsaas programme.

He said the COVID-19 brought major devastation in counties like the United States and Italy, but the circumstances are quite different in Pakistan. He said the death rate in the country from the virus lowe than feared.

Khan said the COVID-19 Tigers Force would be made operational from next week and would be asked to go the rural areas and help the people.