ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar has lashed out at Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif for holding a rally in Swat amid coronavirus pandemic.
Taking to Twitter today (Monday), the Planning Minister said that if Shehbaz Sharif wants to serve the country he should stop holding public gatherings with thousands in attendance. “Shehbaz sharif in his NA speech lectured about amazing things he would have done to stop COVID if he was in power,” he wrote.
“The least he can do is not do jalsas with thousands of people as he did in swat yesterday. Or is he only willing to do something positive for Pakistan if he is in power?” the minister tweeted.
Shahbaz sharif in his NA speech lectured about amazing things he would have done to stop covid if he was in power. Least he can do is not do jalsas with thousands of people as he did in swat yesterday. Or is he only willing to do something positive for Pakistan if he is in power?
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) July 5, 2021
The public gathering in Swat was the first rally of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in several months as attempts were reportedly under way by the PML-N and JUI-F to revive the alliance and unite all opposition forces.
Umar, who also heads the National Command and Operation Centre, had last month warned that the fourth COVID-19 wave could hit the country in July if standard operating procedures (SOPs) are not followed and advised the masses to get themselves vaccinated.
“Reviewed the artificial intelligence-based disease modelling analysis today in NCOC. In the absence of strong SOP enforcement and continued strong vaccination program, the 4th wave could emerge in Pakistan in July,” he had said.
Positivity nears 3%
Pakistan today (Monday) reported 1,347 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, marking the fifth consecutive day of 1,000+ daily new cases.
Another 19 people lost their lives to COVID-19 over this 24-hour period, as per data from the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) issued today. The coronavirus positivity ratio currently stands at 2.97%.
