With the count of the Corona virus victims reaching an unprecedented amount in the country, it has become the responsibility of citizens in Pakistan to either make sure they and their family stay safe, or look for ways to counteract the virus. In an effort to make sure the state can control and monitor the spread of the virus, the Government of Pakistan have announced the development of an application specifically from COVID-19.
Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Media and Broadcasting, in a recent statement, announced an application designed specifically for the media personnel to report specifically on coronavirus. The application that is planned to be launched soon will be named “COVID-19 Care for Media”. The app will be launched in April at the information ministers’ video conference on the direction of the Prime Minister. More specific details on the application were shared on Dr Firdous’ official twitter account. According to shared details, Pakistani journalists can register themselves and their families via the application. This will ensure that they can directly report any COVID-19 related cases and get any assistance one may need.
The tweet also highlighted how the government and the prime minister in particular is seriously concerned for the well-being and safety of media personnel. The tweet stated: “وزیراعظم عمران خان کوصحافیوں اور میڈیا ورکرز کی سلامتی بے حد عزیز ہے۔ان کی ہدایت پر آج وزراء اطلاعات ویڈیو کانفرنس اجلاس میںCOVID-19CARE FOR MEDIA ایپ لانچ کرنے جارہے ہیں۔اس کے ذریعے متاثرہ صحافی اور خاندان کے افراد خود کو رجسٹر کروا کر اپنے کیسز رپورٹ کر سکتے ہیں۔”
The Covid-19 Care for Media application will also help in keeping track and verifying the correct number of affected people with the virus as the app is made to collect real-time data. When the app is launched, the government will later highlight and discuss issues related to safety, precautions, final strategy to pay dues to media houses.