Muhammad Hanif
ALTHOUGH the cases of the Coronavirus in the country are gradually increasing, in view of the perception that if the lockdown is not lifted and the economic activity is not resumed, then more people were likely to die out of hunger than of the Coronavirus, the Pakistan Government, in coordination with the provincial governments, has lifted the lockdown and about 70 percent economic activity has resumed. But, the lockdown has been lifted, on the condition that the people of Pakistan will follow the Corona-related SOP’s, issued by the Government. While lifting the lockdown the Government has announced that in the areas, where the SOP’s get violated and more Corona patients are registered, it will consider reimposing the lockdown and the curfew in those areas.
The above scenario implies that at least for the next six months or a year, the Pakistan Government and its people have to fight the COVID-19, and carry out the economic activity at the same time. To do this, the major emphasis of the Government and the people should be to ensure that they observe the SOP’s, and enhance health sector’s capacity to spot corona patients to quarantine and cure them. The Government and the people should also participate in the economic activity with full care, zeal and enthusiasm to enhance the economic growth and exports, to feed the people and to carry out the country’s economic development.
To contain/end the Coronavirus, the Government will need to focus on monitoring the observance of the virus-related SOP’s by the people, reimposing the smart lockdown, where ever required, and to concentrate on supporting the hospitals treating the Corona patients by the provision of medicines, ventilators, testing facilities and protective equipment for the doctors. Pakistan’s economy should be driven by supporting the major industries and businesses in shape of low interest loans, subsidies, budgetary incentives and supportive regulations, which should increase the economic activity, growth and employment.
To meet the challenge of ending the COVID-19 and to create and maintain dynamism in the economic activity to enhance economic growth simultaneously, apart from the steps already taken by the Government, following additional key suggestions are offered. The Federal and Provincial Governments should maintain a sturdy supply of critical medical equipment/PPE and implement frequent testing mechanism for the frontline healthcare staff. The Government should further improve the quality and capacity of the quarantine centres to address the general perception of the mismanagement of these facilities.
The NDMA should ensure regular procurement/delivery of the required medical supplies for capacity building of health sector. Also, an accurate forecasting of critical medical supplies must be urgently ensured based on real time/authentic data. The Federal/Provincial Governments should formulate policy guidelines for technical/forensic analysis of foreign-donated monitoring/surveillance devices. A strict implementation of burial protocols and training of burial workers should be ensured. The Government should also continually engage the prominent Ulema for encouraging the people to observe Corona-related precautions in mosques and even otherwise, spelled out by the Government in the form of SOPs. A strict Social Distancing Protocol should be followed during the payment of the financial assistance to the needy people through Ehsaas Programme, and the provision of rations to the poor. Food security challenges should be mitigated through the availability of essential agricultural-support infrastructure, financial assistance and technical advice to the farmers and other departments related to the agricultural development. The provincial governments should provide a minimum one month ration to vulnerable/missed out communities such as living in far flung areas by the inclusion of philanthropist and charity organizations through a well-defined/coordinated mechanism.
The Federal Government should carry out necessary policy interventions in the banking sector, fiscal matters and public finances, social safety nets, SMEs and large businesses, commodity prices, public health challenges and the role of private sector and NGOs. The price control mechanism may be strictly regulated by the state machinery. The Federal Government needs to galvanize diplomatic missions, for lobbying with the host countries to minimize the chances of the Pakistani workers being laid-off. The agriculture sector should be provided facilities and incentives to cultivate essential items so that Pakistan should not import pulses and edible oil.
To successfully fight the COVID-19 after lifting the lockdown, the main areas to focus are; ensuring the observance of the Corona-related SOPs in the country, enhancing the virus surveillance and testing capacity to detect the patients at an earlier stage, and increasing hospitals’ capacity to quarantine and treat the affected people. To revitalize the economy after lifting the lockdown, maximum economic activity has to be generated by providing incentives to the industry, businesses, agriculture and the services sector enhance growth, increase exports and reduce the imports to boost the country’s foreign exchange reserves to make the economy stronger. To manage/end the COVID-19 and galvanize the Pakistan’s economy simultaneously, the Federal and Provincial Government’s and the people of Pakistan will have to display an extraordinary level of patience, hard work and resilience.
—The writer is an ex-Army Colonel and Senior Research Fellow, Strategic Vision Institute, Islamabad.
