ISLAMABAD: The prime minister directed them to ensure all possible steps at the administrative level so that no one could take advantage of the situation by starting hoarding and profiteering.

Chairing a high-level meeting about possible effects of coronavirus on the country’s economy and the steps to providing relief to the people, the prime minister said in the present situation the government would go to any extent to protect the vulnerable sections of the society.

The meeting reviewed the overall economic situation of the country following the outbreak of coronavirus and its impacts on economy and deliberated upon various proposals and all possible options to provide relief to the people, particularly poor and low-income groups of the society.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers Hammad Azhar, Asad Umar, Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Advisors Dr Abdul Hafiz Shaikh, Dr Ishrat Hussain, Abdul Razak Dawood, Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Special Assistants Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Dr Sania Nishtar, secretary finance, chairman Pakistan Housing Authority and chairperson Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar said on Monday that the government’s economic team was finalising an economic relief and stimulus package to protect the people from adverse impact of novel coronavirus on the national economy.

Taking to Twitter, he said the package would be announced today (Tuesday). “PM office, members of cabinet and government officers in multiple divisions have worked tirelessly over the past days to work out proposals and take decisions,” he said