Time to step up

By Sunday afternoon, the number of Covid-19 cases in Pakistan had nearly reached 690. That is an alarming rate of infection and should worry policymakers. It seems at least the leaders sitting in Sindh have understood this and have acted to stem this rate as much as is possible. It is obvious now that the virus is being spread locally, and there is still not enough testing to determine who is infected and who may be suffering simply from a common cold. This is is why the Sindh government’s decision to invoke a lockdown throughout the province – starting today – comes as a timely and necessary step. The Sindh chief minister has said no person is to leave their homes and all shopping malls, wedding halls, restaurants and other places of business will remain closed – with exemptions for persons in essential work like healthcare, media, grocery workers etc. Recognising the immense hardship this will inevitably cause for many from low -income groups, CM Murad Ali Shah has ordered utility companies not to collect bills this month from those paying under Rs5,000 for electricity and under Rs2,000 for gas; and has also asked all those renting out shops and small homes to lower or exempt rent over the crisis period.

While the sensible handling of what could soon turn into a massive crisis has not been acknowledged by the federal government and little help said to have been offered to Sindh, the PPP leadership has offered to cooperate to any degree needed to carry out a nationwide effort to defeat the virus that is literally decimating the world. The same has been echoed by the PML-N’s Shahbaz Sharif, who has now returned to Pakistan. In the meanwhile, at the federal level flights in and out of the country have been stopped, creating an important barrier. Punjab too has called out the army to help it carry out similar measures required to contain spread; and Balochistan has also asked the interior ministry for military help. Despite all this, Prime Minister Imran Khan just does not seem convinced that a lockdown is the answer. In a short address to the nation on Sunday, PM Imran Khan insisted that he would not opt for a lockdown immediately but would not hesitate to put one in place if people failed to cooperate with government instructions. The prime minister has justified this by saying that he wishes to protect the economy, daily wage labourers and others who would suffer mercilessly if people were denied all permission to move in public space.

While the PM’s concern for the poor is laudable, he seems to have been misled into thinking that not opting for a lockdown would make anything easier for the working poor. The fact is that if the virus spreads, it will most badly harm those who live in slums, those who cannot afford treatment at expensive private hospitals and those who do not have the means to observe quarantines within homes or practise hygiene. Pakistan has amongst the worst healthcare facilities in the world, with only six beds per 10,000 people, compared to China which has 43. We saw China struggle to contain this virus. Half of the beds in our hospitals are already occupied. What happens when this virus spreads? And what has prompted the government to think that it will not? How will we acquire ventilators and when will we succeed in providing protective gear to health workers – some of whom have already been infected by corona. These questions may determine the future of our nation. Does that mean we leave the working poor at the mercy of poverty? No. That means that the government steps up and ensures the working poor are protected via the innumerable schemes launched in the name of social welfare. The PM says the poor are more afraid of poverty than the virus. That may be true today. But it will not be so when the virus hits the poor and they are faced with a nightmare they can’t wake up from. We cannot afford to become a China nor should we wait to become an Italy. Its a tough decision but its one the government must make today so it spares our doctors from making impossible decisions later on. This is no time for partisan politics. The government must set aside all political differences and embrace the support being offered by the mainstream opposition so that the people of this country don’t turn into mere statistics. That, we feel, should be the main message we all learn to embrace this Pakistan Day.