Public getting agitated over delay in provision of rations

Rawalpindi : Public is getting more and more agitated with each passing day because of the inability of the government both at federal and provincial levels to provide them rations to feed the hungry facing lockdown amid an outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.

Dozens of women with their children and hundreds of poor men could be seen sitting along roads waiting for help for three times meal during the lockdown.

Talking to ‘The News’ the people sitting along the roads, said instead of wasting time of ‘Corona Tiger Force’, government should have at-least provided relief to the poor and needy through relief organisations or armed forces of Pakistan who have always stood by people in need.

“The government has just started the registration of Corona Tiger Force and till April 10, the volunteers for the force would be registered. This seems like a long procedure, so how long will we have to wait for rations,” said a disgruntled Amir Bashir, a daily wager who has been out of work for around two weeks now.

People like Amir Bashir and others appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to provide them food on emergency basis within 24-hours through army, rangers and local managements. Army, rangers and local managements performed very well in difficult times even in the days of flood, earthquakes and other natural calamities, said Shahnaz Bibi, sitting along a road with other needy families.

Shazia Batool, sitting along Chur Chowk said that she was on roads due to poor government policies in this lockdown situation. “I remained in home for several days, but my rations have diminished now, our Prime Minister is adopting difficult ways rather easy ways to provide us food items during lockdown days,” a sobbing Shazia added.

Yasmeen Tahir, another hungry lady, said that she was on the road with her children anticipating some relief. “I am proud of some philanthropists who have rightly judged the situation and are providing relief, but the government has literally failed to deliver on its promises,” she denounced.

Bano Bibi, another lady sitting along road said that government as per habit was only making plans rather doing some practical work to provide us three times meal. “We were waiting for the government help for several days but in vain,” she said. We are ready to stay in homes, but how could we survive without food, she denounced.

The poor daily wagers have claimed that they were without work and without food for over two weeks, but government was only busy in conducting meetings instead of taking practical steps at least to provide three times meal to them.