AFTER intensive discussions with government teams and representatives of different political parties, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has decided to impose a complete lockdown in the province for fifteen days. It is understood that the period of isolation could be extended based on the ground situation as it evolves during the next two weeks. However, in his address to the nation on Sunday, Prime Minister Imran Khan appealed to the people to go for self-quarantine, saying this was the best precautionary measure to prevent spread of the deadly Corona Virus since the government could not lock down the entire country keeping in view its implications for the common man. Sindh has done what is effectively being tried elsewhere in the world to check the spread of the virus as there was no other sure way to protect the people. Difficulties of the people notwithstanding, the countries opting for total lockdown have demonstrated success in minimizing threat to the lives of their people. Syed Murad Ali Shah has aptly conveyed to the people that it is not ‘curfew’ but ‘CareForYou’ as the decision is motivated by his commitment to shield people against the fast spreading deadly disease. It is gratifying that seriousness of the situation is now being realized by all segments of the society and this was evident from the endorsement that the decision of the Chief Minister received from other political parties. Prime Minister’s concern about negative effects of the total lockdown is understandable as ultimately the Government will have to bear the burden of any adverse impact of the decision. However, now that we have the model of Sindh before us and it would be seen in the next few days in which direction the situation proceeds. Apparently, the provincial government has taken necessary precaution to ensure that people face no difficulties in case of health or other emergencies and that they are also able to procure foodstuff during breaks to be announced by the authorities concerned for the purpose. The province has apparently done its homework as the CM has directed power and gas companies not to recover bills of the month for the time being, asked landlords to receive rent of the properties in instalments and directed employers to pay full salaries to workers. This along with some other similar measures would help provide relief to the disadvantaged segments of the society.Alockdown has also been announced in Gilgit-Baltistan, where the number of affected persons is increasing with the passage of every day. Meanwhile, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan governments have called out the Pakistan Army to help them in dealing with the Corona Virus pandemic, as the number of confirmed cases in the country reached eight hundred with four deaths including one doctor from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Calling out of the Army is seen as a first step towards total lockdown as such a measure can only be effectively enforced with the cooperation of the Army. Voluntary isolation could have produced the desired results but unfortunately the appeal of the Punjab Chief Minister to the people of the province not to come out of their homes for two days has not been heeded to by the majority despite gravity of the situation. Punjab entered a critical phase of local transmission of Corona Virus, as 70 patients were confirmed in a single day on Sunday and this might force the government to follow the footsteps of Sindh and GB. Leader of the Opposition Mian Shahbaz Sharif, who has returned from London in view of the Corona Virus threat, has also urged the Government to impose total lockdown while the demand is repeatedly being made by PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. An APC should be convened to discuss all aspects of the situation and the strategy revised accordingly and this should be done without further delay. The precautionary measures being adopted by other countries can also be replicated in Pakistan as well. Many ministries and departments have already started working with fifty percent strength and the manpower is deployed on rotation basis to minimize exposure of the personnel to the pandemic. In the US, electric industry is preparing to ask essential staff to live on site at power plants and control centres to keep operations running if the Corona Virus outbreak worsens, and has been stockpiling beds, blankets and food for them. This can be done in the case of essential services in Pakistan as well.
