Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Covid-19 impact global poverty levels
Since the arrival of the Kovid-19 in December last year, the global death toll has crossed the 300,000 mark, with expectations rising over time. However, the ultimate number of people who are infected by the epidemic will greatly reduce the number of people who die from the virus. In view of this, the virus is not able to adequately capture the previous numbers of people suffering from hunger, poverty, disease and violence. According to World Bank estimates, Covid-19 is expected to be first increase in world poverty since 1998. While it is difficult to ascertain the exact magnitude of poverty against the current theme of this devastating epidemic in this developed period, recent estimates suggest that by 2020, 40-60 million people worldwide will be driven into extreme poverty.
Using the poverty line of 90 1.90 per day, the share of the world’s population living in poverty is estimated to rise from 8.2% to 8.6%, a huge increase from 632 to 665 million people. The United Nations (UN) estimates that more than half a billion people are in deep depression, and developing countries need $ 2.5 trillion to escape poverty. Prior to the arrival of the coronavirus, forecasts prepared by the World Economic Forum predicted that global poverty would fall from 8.1% to 7.8%.
The situation of scarcity and vulnerability is worse in areas where the virus has the most damaging effect and the highest proportion of the population living close to the international poverty line. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that economies shrink to six percent in developed countries, while developing countries have a one percent deficit. Since the majority of the world’s population lives near the poverty line in developing countries, they are more vulnerable to the virus, even in cases where the virus is not as harmful to health as sub-Saharan Africa.
QASIM RAHEEM
Islamabad
Remembering Ibn-e-Insha
Sher Muhammad Khan better known as Ibn-e-Insha was born on 15 June 1927 in Phillaur, Jalandhar. He was married at the age of 14 while studying in school. However, after partition he first moved to Lahore and spent some time there in acute penury. Then he shifted to Karachi and did some odd jobs and continued his studies.
He did MA Urdu from Karachi University and stood first in the exams. By the time his poetry got recognition and he started writing Urdu columns also that made him instantly famous. By courtesy of Qudrutullah Shahab, Ibn e Insha became Director of National Centre. This opened a window of opportunity for him to travel around the globe on UNESCO expense. Insha Je wrote his travelogues of these journeys. These writings were warmly received and numerous editions of these books were published. His epic poem “Insha ji utho ab kooch kro” was all time hit. Ibn-e-Insha holds a respectable place in Urdu humour writers like Shaukat Ali Thanvi, Shafiq-ur-Rehman, Col M Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed Yousfi and Zahid Malik. Mumtaz Mufti, Ashfaq Ahmed praised Insha ji in their writings for his human nature and charity work.
His half-humorous half- serious style won him accolades from Urdu readers around the world. In his late forties he suffered from Hodgkin. He was under treatment in London when Zia Government discontinued his official medical treatment. He left this immortal world on 11 January 1978. However, he was awarded the Pride of Performance later that year.
IFTIKHAR MIRZA
Islamabad
Let’s hope
The Covid-19 lockdown has now entered its twelfth week in India but yet the government remains silent on how it is going to end. If we are unable to control Coronavirus, the lockdown must continue for another month or two.
The longer and tighter the lockdown, the less Covid-19 infection will remain to be transmitted to the uninfected population. But how can Covid-19 be controlled after the lockdown ends? We can hope for some vaccine to come to the rescue but not for many months.
Or we must wait in lockdown for the Covid-19 infection to reduce to a level we can control through increased testing and tracking and so hopefully reduce the infection rate to insignificance. Let’s hope we see that crucial percentage drop in the coming weeks.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Corona & hospitals
I was surprised when I read pamphlet poster displayed by Indus Hospital, Dow Medical Hospital and Agha Khan Hospital that they cannot admit and treat Covid-19 patients because they have no more beds. It is a matter of serious concern for us and the government.
When you look at the civil hospitals, they have no even primary care for normal patients, how can they treat the patients of novel Corona? Today, they overcame the corona virus because followed the preventive measures and have listened the government and acted in the advice of doctors. Where the case is of Pakistan when the doctors recommended for lock down and staying at home. We negated and deemed Cproan as myth.
Doctors came out for press conference and urged for staying at home because they knew the severity of disease but unfortunately we have ignored their advice and give deaf ear to them. And now, they have refused to admit the patients of corona due to lack of capacity in hospitals. Now, still i am optimist that time has not gone. We can resist the spread of corona and treat the corona patients if we go for limited lockdown and strictly implement the SOPs issued by the government. It is testing time for all of us so we are to care eachother and compel the carefree people to listen the doctors advice who are standing at the frontline.
MUJEEB ALI SAMO
Larkana
Pakistani lives should matter
There is uproar in the US “Black Lives Matter” over brutal torture following police officer’s knee chokehold resulting in death of George Floyd. I wonder what more will it take for authorities in Pakistan to realize that lives of ordinary citizens should matter and transparent meaningful investigations following air crashes involving commercial airlines in Pakistan, or burning alive of 79 citizens in train fire or massacre involving 279 citizens burned in Baldia Factory, or 4 members of a family brutally killed near Sahiwal etc deserve thorough investigation and justice, not cover ups.
The most recent incident is PIA A320 crash near Karachi on Jumatul Wida, in which over 100 have perished and controversial composition of for-member Accident Investigation team, with three members junior in rank of PIA CEO and CAA ATC officer to investigate crash in which CAA negligence may have aggravated accident. The A320 has capability to execute a Go Around as low as 15 Feet above ground, although Decision Height is higher. It has capability for Auto Approach and Go Around. The leak of an edited audio clip of conversation between pilot and control tower, within hours is intriguing followed by release next day, of video showing runway scratched by two engine pods.
Based on video and audio clips, what is missing is action taken by ATC after they witnessed engine pods impact runway, and instructions they gave to pilots and preparations made for subsequent crash landing, such as laying foam and placing fire tenders and activating relevant departments, involved in possible rescue. Emergency and Abnormal Procedures are evolved by manufacturers in consultation with ICAO, to cater for average pilots and human errors and technical faults. Obstacle height restrictions around 15 KM periphery of active civil airports exist to cater for such abnormalities and emergencies.
Bhoja Air had its Operators License cancelled in 2000 for gross safety violations and financial problems but was allowed to resume operations after 12 years, only for the first flight to crash on 20 April 2020, killing 121 souls. The fate of Shaheen Air started by PAF Shaheen Foundation should awaken many from deep slumber.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
