Govt rolls out single-window to fight Covid-19

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan visited the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) for the COVID-19 disease in Islamabad Friday, said a press release issued on Friday.

The prime minister was briefed by Federal Minister Asad Umar and Major General Asif Mehmood Goraya, DG Operations and Planning NCOC about the latest situation of the COVID-19, measures taken thus far, and future course of action for containment efforts against the COVID-19, during the visit.

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa was present during the visit.

Minister for Planning Asad Umar, Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar, Minister for National Food Security Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, the SAPM on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, SAPM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, SAPM on National Security Dr Moeed Yusuf, and senior civil and military officials were present during the briefing.

The National Command and Operation Centre is the nerve centre to synergize and articulate unified national effort against the COVID-19, and to implement the decisions of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on the COVID-19.

The centre is a one-window operation to collate, analyse and process information based on digital input and human intelligence across Pakistan through all the provinces, AJ&K, GB and the ICT dedicated representatives and centres.

Recommendations based on information/data is then processed including health, finance, and all matters related to the COVID-19 to NCC for real time projections and timely interventions by the NCC headed by PM.

The PM directed the NCOC to focus on health management, financial impact, socio-economic and food security, strategic communication and awareness while suggesting the calibrated and measured response paradigm with the evolving scenario in the wake of the COVID-19.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, while appreciating the establishment of the NCOC and progress made by the NCOC so far, said “we need to render untiring efforts for effective enforcement of the decisions through the NCOC to contain the outbreak of the COVID-19 across the country.”

The prime minister reiterated that there must be no compromise on availability of essential food items and sustainability of supply lines throughout the country. Prime Minister Imran Khan stressed on the need to prioritise the efforts and enforce the decisions of the NCOC through regular and timely meetings under the leadership of Federal Minister Asad Umar.

An example would be made out of hoarders and smugglers, the prime minister warned.—PR