Newly-appointed Federal Information Minister Shibli Faraz has said that Pakistan cannot afford to impose a complete lockdown due to the coronavirus.

While stressing the need to observe strict SOPs, he said the federal government can still give policy guidelines to its units following 18th Amendment.

Speaking to the media at a news conference in Islamabad on Friday , the federal minister said that “the government and the opposition are inseparable,” and added that it is good as long as the opposition plays its role while remaining within the margins of democratic lines.

About assuming the new role as the information minister, Shibli Faraz said “It is only because of Imran Khan that I’m here in the country’s politics.” He said that he would do his best to justify his selection by his party leader.