Coronavirus: “If people are careful, they can live with the virus,” said Imran Khan.
Islamabad:
Prime Minister Imran Khan cited economic losses on Monday to justify his government’s decision to lift the coronavirus lockout despite rising infections and deaths, urging people to “live with the virus”.
Pakistan has canceled almost all the closure measures, mainly to avoid an economic crisis. The country would open up to tourism, but cinemas, theaters and schools remain closed.
The nation of 220 million people has reported 72,160 new cases of coronavirus and 1,543 deaths, which have recently increased to 80 a day.
Its economic losses include a drop in exports, a 30% deficit in revenues, and remittances are expected to decrease in the coming months, said Khan. With the budget deficit expected to reach 9.4% and the shortfall, Pakistan is facing a balance of payments crisis.
The country could not afford to compensate for the losses suffered during the foreclosure, as many other countries have done, said Khan in a televised speech.
He cited 50 million people living below the poverty line and 25 million daily bets.
Imran Khan said his government has given cash benefits to the poor, which has not been possible to continue on such a scale, adding that around 130 million to 150 million people have been affected by the closures.
“Our conditions do not allow us to continue providing them with money, how long we can give them money,” said Imran Khan.
He urged people to act responsibly, but more infections and deaths were inevitable.
“This virus will spread more. I must say with regret that there will be more deaths,” said Khan. “If people take care, they can live with the virus.”
(Reporting by Asif Shahzad; Editing by Grant McCool)
