Dubai: With coronavirus tally crossing 43,000 cases on Tuesday, Pakistan is now the 20th most-affected COVID-19 country in the world.
The number of coronavirus cases continues to increase sharply in the Pakistan, which has already eased lockdown by opening shopping malls, businesses, trains, domestic flights and public transport.
936 COVID-19 deaths
The confirmed official tally shows on Tuesday afternoon that the cases have risen to 43,966 with 936 deaths while 12,485 patients have recovered so far. At least 36 patients have died during the last 24-hour.
According to data from the US-based Johns Hopkins University, which has maintained a dashboard of COVID-19 cases worldwide, Pakistan is listed at 20 in terms of the number of people infected, out of 188 countries. Currently, United States is the most affected country in the world, with 1,508,598 cases, followed by Russia, Brazil and the United Kingdom. India ranks at the 11th position, as it crosses over 100,000 cases this week.
18 million jobless
Pakistan government has taken a number of measures to help the needy families and those who lost jobs. More than 18 million Pakistanis have become jobless due to almost two-month long lockdown imposed in the country to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19.
In the wake of massive job losses and help the poor families, Prime Minister Imran Khan last month announced relief package of US$8 billion. The money was also used to help businesses and to give tax rebates.
Cash assistance programme
On Monday, Prime Minister Imran also formally launched the disbursement process of Ehsaas Emergency Cash to the people who lost jobs due to COVID-19 pandemic. They will be given cash assistance from the PM COVID-19 Relief Fund.
Every jobless person who has registered for help, will get an emergency cash assistance of Rs12, 000 each through the system.
PM’s Special Assistant on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar and other senior officials also accompanied the prime minister to launch the programme.
Dr Nishtar briefed the prime minister about the whole process. She told the first batch of beneficiaries that the country was passing through difficult times and assured the government’s support to the vulnerable segments of society.
3.4million jobless apply for help
So far, more than 3.4 million jobless have applied for cash assistance via Ehsaas Labour Portal since the prime minister launched the scheme for jobless on May 2, reported APP.
Prime Minister Imran has once again appealed to philanthropists and businessmen to donate generously to the PM’s COVID-19 Relief Fund to help the people in needy.
He reiterated that the government would donate Rs4 for each donated rupee in the Ehsaas Emergency Cash for the jobless.
