Prime Minister Imran Khan will chair a Federal Cabinet meeting today to discuss easing the country’s lockdown.

The cabinet will also address the country’s economic problems due to the pandemic along with the Ehsaas Program relief package and the power concession provided to small businesses.

The cabinet will also be briefed on the manufacture of face masks, sanitizers and protective equipment.

Cabinet is likely to order the inclusion of 61 compulsory certification list food and non-food products and temporarily suspend the varnish coating of existing banknotes due to coronavirus for a few months.

Meeting is also expected to approve the appointment of Naveed Asghar as Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) member finance. Mr Asghar currently works as general manager, finance force, for Wapda.

Earlier Federal Cabinet approved the Economic Coordination Committee’s decisions, including approval of a 75 billion rupee relief package to provide financial assistance to employees and daily wagers who have lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The cabinet approved a package worth Rs 75 billion rupees to address work capital problems of those small businesses that have been greatly impacted by the lockdown. As part of the program, the government will bear three months of electricity expenses for small businesses across Pakistan.

The program also aims to provide relief to staff and daily wagers who have been unemployed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Similarly, small businesses with a commercial connection of less than five kilowatts and industrial consumers less than 70 kilowatts will benefit from the initiative, which will enable the government to pay electricity bills for the months of May, June and July.

The amounts deposited in their bills will remain valid up to six months for use.