Aqeel Abbas
THE precautions to stay safe from Corona Virus pandemic forced the PTI government to lockdown all formal, informal, small and big enterprises. The Prime Minister of Pakistan denied lockdown of an entire country where poor middle class and daily workers constitute giant chunk of populace, but this harsh step had to be taken. In his discourse, he assured the public that no deliberate attempts are made for any form of partial or complete closure at first operation. The Sindh government took step of lockdown after abrupt exposure to virus and followed by other provincial govts. The Punjab administration proceeded late for step as number of cases increased from all other territories.
The already closed educational institutes and lockdown of formal, informal businesses, transportation, trade, agriculture activities soared the economic catastrophe of the country to an unprecedented level. The 60% population lives below poverty line and quarter of one hundred is exceptionally inadequate. The economists have analyzed that crisis will burden first two quarters of fiscal year 2021. The Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) went down 100 point due to closure of marketing in all big cities in first week of March. The vehicle of Pakistani economy is textile which comprises 60 percent of economy and production of textile entities requires import of raw material from China. Borders are shut down and flight operations are suspended leading to no manufacturing of textile. Chinese President asserted start of trade with European states and Pakistan, but it would take time to resume trade again. Not only textile industry but agriculture sector also stationed working and became root of hurting for daily wagers both in urban and rural areas.
To heal the wounds of daily wagers, the government announces relief package of 1 trillion rupees. In a meeting of Economic Coordination Committee, the PM directs all ministers to utilize the money for betterment of poor sector. Following the footsteps of federal government, the provincial governments also broadcast aids for down and out people. The Chief Minister of Punjab promulgates the support of 2.5 million families as province has most number of cases now. The supply of edibles to poor families is a need of time and the PM establishes Coronavirus Tiger Force to provide commodities at doorsteps.
No doubt government is in dire need to weaken the confinement, but it should keep an objective look on current scenario. The medical team from China declared month of April critical for transmission and recommended feasible lock down for few more weeks. The administration should concern the pros and cons before taking any step. The Islamabad High Court ordered to turn local hotels into quarantine centres. If govt wants to restore businesses, it should speed up safety measures as well. The unshielded exposure to social contact would raise number to critical limits. European states and developed countries would have preferred complete closure but Pakistan has other concerns before taking an acute action.
The social workers, artists and philanthropists stepped forward to ace difficulties of miserable population. Moreover, celebrities are striving to convey the message of societal coherence to the public. Our public is not ready to harness the restrictions inflicted by the government because some are unaware of the severity of situation and others veil pandemic in religious fabric. The collective efforts are required to acknowledge public that safety belongs to stay at home policy. Rebellious stances promoting hatred against restrictions would bring forth only more losses. The President also intervened and requested clerics of Al Azhar University to issued a decree to temporarily suspend congregational prayers. Finally, we need to united and follow all precautions and hygiene, safe distance to beat this invisible enemy.
—The writer is freelance columnist, based in Sargodha.
