ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has said tjat international financial institutions have started giving incentives to Pakistan in the wake of COVID-19.

“The government gave a stimulus package in the current situation and has allowed construction sector to work to boost economic activity and generate employment opportunities,” he said talking to a private TV channel.

Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said the government would have to make big decisions in agriculture sector soon including improvement in seeds, agri machinery and others.

Also Read: Pakistan among 76 countries to get debt relief from May 1

The adviser said the government had already passed on the benefit of declining oil prices to the public and those would be further reduced next month (in May).

On April 16, in a statement regarding successful economic diplomacy of Pakistan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had said about 76 developing countries including Pakistan would get debt relief from the May 1 initially for a period of one year.

He had pointed out that the Prime Minister Imran Khan’s appeal for debt relief and restructuring for developing countries was endorsed by the UN Secretary General, the International Monetary Fund and the G-20 countries at a meeting on Apr 15.

The foreign minister had said Pakistan spent one third of its revenue on payment of debt and this debt relief would greatly benefit Pakistan.

Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) are jointly working to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Pakistan.

An official of MoHR said UNICEF provided health care facilities in Covid-19 emergency situation in rural areas where an increase in malnutrition was higher in children.

The official said UNICEF is already working to improve healthcare, water and sanitation, access to learning and protection services for children struggling just to survive.