ISLAMABAD, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday evening announced the formation of a volunteers' force to help official institutions in fight the COVID-19 spread.
The prime minister addressed the nation in a recorded televised speech, saying the government will form the Prime Minister's Coronavirus Relief Tiger Force which would assist the state institutions in countering the COVID-19 spread and minimize its impact.
The prime minister said the government has not locked down any part of the country completely yet because it has no system to reach out to the poor and the needy people to provide them food, medicines and other necessities.
"Once we have formed the volunteers' force, we shall be able to lock down the affected areas completely and the force will be available to help the needy people," said the prime minister.
Khan urged the people especially experts in the fields of medical science and philanthropists to join the force to provide relief to the common people.
According to a statement from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, the online registration for the volunteers will start on March 31 and the prime minister's performance delivery unit will manage the registration process as well as data management of the volunteers.
Khan also announced to set up the Prime Minister's Coronavirus Relief Fund to seek donations so that the cash strapped government could provide better care to the underprivileged people. He added that 25 percent of Pakistan's total around 210-million-population is living below the poverty line while 20 percent others are at the edge and the government needs to look after them.
The prime minister asked the rich people to donate to the fund and promised to provide tax exemptions to the donors.
According to the data released by the health ministry of Pakistan on Monday, at least 1,717 positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country with 20 deaths and 57 recovered patients.
The government has taken a number of measures against the pandemic, including awareness campaigns, enhancement of testing and medical facilities besides imposing a partial lockdown across the country to promote social distancing.
