Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the Tiger Force will work together with the administration in relief efforts and create awareness among the masses about precautionary measures to avoid the spread of Coronavirus.

Addressing the volunteers of Corona Relief Tiger Force in Islamabad today (Monday), he pointed out that the pandemic has compelled many countries to take the steps which were never taken before.

He said the same kind of volunteer force has also been established in the United Kingdom.

Imran Khan said the lockdown has affected a big population including workers, daily wagers and labourers and this is the reason that we have decided to gradually lift the restrictions. 

He said SOPs for different sectors are being prepared to ease the restrictions and in this situation, the role of the volunteer force will gain immense importance as they have to ensure implementation of SOPs in order to avert the spread of the contagion.

The Prime Minister said this will help the government run the wheel of the economy and provide job opportunities to the people.

Imran Khan said we have to save the people from the pandemic as well as starvation, and the services of tiger force are required to strike a balance in the economic activity and the lockdown.

The Prime Minister said the government has recently launched a relief program for those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic.

He asked the tiger force to help these people get them registered with the program in order to get the finance assistance under the Ehsaas Program.

Imran Khan asked the volunteers to also keep an eye on the hoarders and accordingly inform the administration so that it could take action against them. 

He also directed the district administration to take along the Tiger Force and provide them the protection to cope with the current difficult situation.

Speaking on the occasion, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar said 20,000 members of Tiger Force have been given responsibilities in Sialkot to help out district administration in face of Coronavirus challenges.

He said the government has operationalized 203-bed hospital in Sialkot where 403 paramedics are performing their services voluntarily. 

Similarly, he said 9000 volunteers of tiger force are helping to enforce standing operating procedures in 3,000 mosques in Sialkot.

The Special Assistant further said they are also helping in distributing ration among needy families.

He urged the volunteers to strictly follow code of conduct and not to transfer their responsibilities to anyone else.

In his remarks, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services, Dr. Zafar Mirza said registered paramedics and doctors with the Tiger Force will perform their services in different sectors.

He said the government will also hire their services in implementing Test, Trace and Quarantine' strategy to contain the coronavirus. 

Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director Utility Stores Corporation Umer Lodhi said over 4,000 Utility Stores outlet, 800 franchises and mobile vans are providing essential commodities to the people under Prime Minister's Relief Package. 

He said utility stores sold out items worth ten billion rupees in the first ten days Ramzan-ul-Mubarak.

(Khattak/Zahid/Imran/Abdul Rehman)