Tiger Relief Force Starting Tiger Force New Update
Tiger Force volunteers provide uninterrupted food supplies to fully. Prime
Minister Imran Khan's Corona Relief Tiger Force.
The one million-strong Corona Relief Tiger Force (CRTF) of volunteers will
formally become operational.
Pakistan Citizen Portal is updated and right now new features are available
due to corona relief tiger force job application. in the old version.
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| Tiger Relief Force Starting Tiger Force New Update |
Pakistan's 'Tiger Force' to combat coronavirus economic woes
"I registered for the Tiger Force within the first few days," she says. "I
… wanted to serve my country during this crisis."
Registrations opened on March 31 for Prime Minister Imran Khan's Corona
Relief Tiger Force. Within 10 days, more than 850,000 individuals had
registered.
The force is part of an ambitious multi-pronged strategy by Khan's
government to impose movement restrictions and shut down industries while also
ensuring that Pakistan's poorest citizens – many of whom rely on daily wages to
survive – continue to receive adequate supplies of food and other
essentials.
According to a 2016 United Nations Development Programme study, at least 39
per cent of Pakistan's 220 million population live in multi-dimensional poverty,
and Khan has repeatedly said he has delayed implementing a full economic
shutdown to ensure that systems are put into place to feed those people.
Pakistan: Once used by Taliban, Swat FM 98 now fights coronavirus
Pakistan's government chose a strategy of implementing an incremental
lockdown to stave off possible public panic.
In neighbouring India, by contrast, a full nationwide lockdown was
announced with four hours' notice by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24.
India, too, has chosen to launch a relief fund targeting low-income families,
with at least $850m gathered through donations from the public.
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Bangladesh has extended a nationwide lockdown until May 16, with Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina's government releasing relief packages worth more than
$1.7bn aimed at struggling farmers.
The question remains, however: When the country is locked down, how will
these governments address the daily needs of their poorest citizens?
Limited capacity, expanded needs
At only 0.6 beds per thousand individuals, compared to Italy's 3.4 beds per
thousand, or the UK's 2.8, Pakistan’s already frail medical system, with a
paltry 3,844 ventilators for its population of 220 million, is at risk of being
overwhelmed.
"We are walking a tightrope," said PM Khan, of the elusive balance that the
nation is trying to achieve in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 versus managing
the potential economic devastation it could wreak on an already sputtering
economy.
With the government moving to completely seal off areas with high numbers
of reported cases, the delivery of food to quarantined neighbourhoods has
already become a formidable challenge.
This is where the Tiger Force of volunteers is meant to step in: providing
uninterrupted food supplies to fully quarantined areas, distributing aid to the
impoverished and conducting widespread hygiene and health awareness
campaigns.
Despite the fact that registrations are still ongoing, some local
government bodies have already begun to manage relief efforts.
"We’re generally out from 11am to 8 or 9pm. We observe social distancing
protocols, but it gets crowded when it's time for distribution," says
Ahmed.
Risks of exclusion
Besides the volunteers, Pakistan has also launched the largest social
assistance programme in its history, providing a one-time grant of Rs 12,000
($70) to 12 million families across the country.
One of Ahmed's responsibilities at this stage is to manage registrations
for that programme, which uses the infrastructure from the existing Benazir
Income Support Programme (BISP) - a welfare programme named after former Prime
Minister Benazir Bhutto - and automated data analysis to identify needy
families.
PM Imran issues guidelines for Tiger force
Prime Minister Imran Khan issued guidelines to the provincial chief
ministers and chief secretaries regarding the Corona Relief Tiger Force
constituted to dispatch relief efforts across the country during a high-level
meeting on Tuesday.
“The volunteer activities of Tiger Force should be expanded and the force
should be mobilised at district, tehsil and union council levels. Besides, the
volunteers could assist in Ehsaas Labour Registration Programme,” said the prime
minister, issuing directives to ensure smooth coordination at the administrative
level.
The attendees of the meeting included Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief
ministers, chief secretaries and commissioners of the four provinces who
participated through video link.
A weekly report regarding the activities of the force at the provincial
level was presented to the prime minister during the meeting.
Hailing the efforts of the volunteers, the prime minister said, “The brave
youth of Tiger Force is the asset of the country and our heroes who have spared
time for the needy in a difficult time of the pandemic.”
Besides, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad
Umar addressed the launching ceremony of Corona Relief Tiger Force activities in
the federal capital.
Tiger Force unwilling to work without ‘compensation’
Umar warned people the government would implement complete lockdown again
if they failed to act in a responsible and cautious manner in the wake of
Covid-19.
“People apparently take the decision of easing the lockdown casually by
freely visiting markets and other places without any purpose,” said Umar during
his address.
“After witnessing public rush in the markets, it seems that the virus has
vanished away and the situation has become normal,” he said, adding the threat
of the virus still existed and it could even aggravate if the people did not
follow precautionary measures.
He said the prime minister had decided to ease the restrictions only for
the sake of the poor people who were unable to earn their livelihood during the
lockdown.
The minister paid special tributes to the Tiger Force who expressed their
determination in supplementing the relief activities of the government.
Sharing the views of the prime minister, he said, “The PM is leading the
activities against the coronavirus in the country and he wants people to play an
active role in curbing the spread of the virus.”
The minister expressed satisfaction on the situation in hospitals terming
it ‘under control’ and hoped it would remain the same in the future.
He urged people to prepare for Eid with the utmost responsibility to stem
the spread of coronavirus in the country.
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