SYED QAMAR AFZAL RIZVI
THE ongoing Corona crisis has propelled our na tion at the forefront of health, economic and psy chological crisis. While getting out of the woods remains our main objective, it demands a comprehensive national strategythat could systematically addressthe brewing challenges. Despite the fact that the government has strategised a NationalAction Plan vis-à-vis the COVID-19, the task before the government seems tortuous yet not impossible. Like other nations of the world, today, Pakistan is hemmed in by the growing evil effects of the Corona Virus. Pakistan has alreadyimportedthe virus,the country requires stringent measures for early detection of potential cases to contain current outbreak and control measures to prevent further spread. The land route with China (Khunjerab) is closed at present due to heavy snowfall. Pakistan has currently suspended travel and trade activities with Iran in light of the spread of virus from Iran while Taftan and Chaman borders (with Afghanistan) are being monitored closely (Chaman border being closedtemporarily,whereasTaftanis having periodic exit). Furthermore, outward travel to Iran, Iraq and KSA is to be controlled. In theory, the NationalAction Plan seems well to serve the Corona challenges albeit if correctly applied in practice. ’As a policy document for ensuring that all guiding principles for outbreak preparedness, containment andmitigation. Short term (a). Effective preparedness and efficient response by ensuring all safeguards in place to prevent the outbreak of COVID-2019. (b). Identification and activation of available financial and other resources to ensure maximum preparedness and response. Medium-term (a). strengthening and reforms of the organizational, structural and coordination mechanisms to ensure the maximum level of preparedness over time and to effectively respond to all hazards including COVID-2019 emergency. (b). Sustainability of ongoing efforts; and continued strategy for the long term. (c). Develop robust surveillance and response structures throughout Pakistan ensuring compliance with International Health Regulations 2005 with effective Federal-Provincial working. (d). Inculcating a learning culture in the organizational response to 2019- nCoV to further strengthen Pakistan’s capacity to respond effectively to emerging threats’’. Addressing economic challenges remains a profound concern for us.The OECD Secretary-GeneralAngel Gurría, in preparation for the G20 Virtual Summit that took place on Sunday, unveiled the latest OECD estimates showing that the global lockdown, particularly the closure of urban metropolises will directly affect sectors amounting to up to one-third of GDP in the major economies. For each month of containment, there will be a loss of 2 percentage points in annual GDP growth. “The high costs that public health measures are imposing today are necessary to avoid much more tragic consequences and even worse impact on our economies tomorrow,”Mr Gurría said, in his G20 Summit Statement. “Millions of deaths and collapsed health care systems will decimate us financially and as a society, so slowing this epidemic and saving human lives must be governments’first priority. Pragmatically, we need to charter macro and microeconomic management policy to combat the economic challenges posed to us. It is a good omen that PM Imran Khan has announced a relief package of eight billion dollars to the nation. Recruiting Tiger’s Task Force is a dynamic idea provided that the members of the Force are well-equipped with the necessary tools and that the objective is fulfilled beyond any political agenda. Obviously, maintaining the psychological health of our nation is also very much important.According to psychologists, anxiety is a natural response to the unknown, so it’s normal to feel unsettled since much about the virus is unknown, even to experts. As news about the Corona Virus pandemic becomes grimmer, and governments and businesses issue closing or work-from-home directives, many of us are experiencing a variety of negative emotions. It is but natural that we feel anxiety in response to the uncertainty of the situation; sadness related to losing our daily sources of meaning and joy; and anger at whatever forces are to blame for bringing this upon us. The fundamental issue for people is a loss of control,” says David Cates, PhD, a US-based clinical psychologist and behavioural health consultant. Needless to say, the care for these patients includes standard behavioural health protocols for patients in medical isolation. There is need that in our electronic media channel should call services of psychological experts who must be guiding the public relating to the issues about Corona Virus. The Government-sponsoredAhsas Programme should conduct workshops on psychological topics, particularly on significance of social distancing. As always in the time of any national crisis, Pakistan’s Army has been in action from day one and is deploying all possible resources to help the government implement the comprehensive Corona Virus strategy. The plan includes screening, isolation, testing, check on suspected cases and contact tracing as well as keeping a strict check on all exit and entry points of travellers. Measures are being taken to make the defence forces’ medical facilities available for an “extreme emergency” situation, saidMajor General Babar Iftikhar, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). NDMA is trying its best to meet its ascribed objectives but it has its own imitations. Despite the fact that WHO has appraised the current measures taken by Pakistan vis-à-vis Corona Virus, the UN has warned that Pakistan could become the worst-case scenario. Pakistan ranks 105 out of 195 countries in the well-respected Global Health Security Index 2019,leading expertsto question Pakistan’s ability to deal with the virus. Screening, testing and patients’ classification and data keeping is the first and foremosttask.The Government hastakenthe right action to open the closed office of the PMDC. To conclude, our war against the Corona Virus could only be successful once we are united in our fronts, and our nation is well-equipped with the tools of national capacity building. In this regard, Government will have to adopt a mega strategy to address the pertinent issues: federal coordination with the provincial governments, monitoring and enhancing the drivers of national disaster management, reviewing the emerging day to day basis. The high level security alert— on our borders affiliated with Iran,Afghanistan, China and India— remains a paramount aspect. And most importantly, suspension of both international and domestic flight operation needs to be extended. —The writer, an independent ‘IR’researcher-cum-analyst based in Pakistan, is member of European Consortium for Political Research Standing Group on IR, Critical Peace & ConflictStudies,alsoamemberofWashingtonForeignLaw Society and European Society of International Law
