Staying safe

The slogan 'stay home, stay safe' gained currency ever since the coronavirus pestilence took the entire world by surprise. Whoever coined this phrase to escape the onslaught of one of the tiniest and deadliest germs, did great service to humanity. In the absence of any known remedy for the pandemic, this slogan is the only way forward to protect oneself from this killer disease. Governments across the globe are advising their citizens to isolate themselves to arrest the spread of the viral disease. There is no doubt that the Chinese people followed this rule in letter and spirit and succeeded in defeating the outbreak. Now, in Wuhan, the province which was the epicentre of the disease, the situation is quite under control and life is coming back to the normal. Both the Chinese authorities and the Chinese people deserve our appreciation for overcoming the catastrophic situation in a disciplined way. Had they not adopted precautionary measures strictly, the results would have been entirely different in the country.

Sensing the danger in advance, the leadership in Pakistan also went into action and adopted the necessary measures to guard against the contagion. The first giant step was the decision not to bring back Pakistani students studying in China. For this course of action, the government was castigated severely by various corners but in the long run this decision proved a blessing in disguise and saved us from suffering heavy losses. Moreover, religious congregations and social gatherings were banned. Train services were suspended, and air operations were halted, and borders were sealed. Educational institutes were closed and industry was shut down only to minimize the dangerous impact of Covid-19. The government also announced relief packages for the downtrodden and the vulnerable. To cope with the evolving situation wisely, it is time we follow the golden motto, “Unity, Faith, Discipline” given by our founding father, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Keep distance but show unity, have faith in Allah Almighty and stick to the measures adopted by our government and face and fight the critical situation like a disciplined nation.

Muhammad Fayyaz Nawrha

Mianwali