ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday decided to form a joint parliamentary committee of treasury and opposition members to seek opposition`s support in the Eght againstnove1coronavirus.

The prime minister made thedecision in a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser at Prime Minister House.

`Regarding the coronavirus situation and its control, the formation of a joint parliamentary committee of the government and the opposition was also agreed during the meeting,` said a statement released by the Prime Minister Office.

According to the statement, in ordertocheck the spread ofcoronavirusin the country and protectthe people and economy from its effects, the prime minister said the govern-ment was in contact with international institutions and it would utilise all resources to provide relief to the masses.

During the meeting, the speaker exchanged views about the coronavirus situation in the country and the measures being taken at government level to curb the deadly virus.

The prime minister said China`s cooperation with Pakistan to check the coronavirus was laudable.

`Instead of getting into fear, the people should focus on taking precautionary measures against thecoronavirus,` the prime minister was quoted as saying.

It has been learned that the speaker has been tasked to hold meetings with the opposition to recommend names for the joint parliamentary committee. The speaker said that all political parties were united on the national issue. He was conndentthatthe spreadofthevirus would be contained through the measures initiated by the government. tain the virus. He urged both federal and provincial governments to work together in this regard.