News in Pakistan

24 March 2020 - According to research by leading economists of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Pakistan is likely to face layoffs of anywhere between 12.3 million to 18.53 million, if it goes into a partial or complete shutdown in response to COVID-19 (novel Coronavirus). Different provinces are facing different forms of lockdown based on the intensity, while the functioning of different sectors is based on their degree of essentiality. 

The lockdowns could result in economic effects such as declines in the domestic demand and disruption of supply along with reduced tourism and travel, reduction in export-import, production linkages and other health effects. This will be disadvantageous for citizens, especially daily wage-workers. Moreover, unemployment will be varied for each sector. For instance, the agriculture sector in Stage II and III would face a decrease in domestic and foreign demand for products, which would not be the case in Stage I. Take the Survey about Living and Working during COVID-19