Bilawal slams govt’s ‘profit over human life’ response to virus

Ag Agencies

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has criticised the federal government’s “profit over human life” response to the coronavirus and warned its misplaced priorities could leave the entire country suffering.

“In the middle of global pandemic, we have not announced major relief packages for our doctors, nurses, frontline fighters or even daily wage earners who have been hardest hit by lockdown. However, Pakistan has announced major relief for construction industry during Covid-19,” the PPP chairman said in a series of tweets on Friday. The party chairman’s tweets come as Pakistan’s confirmed coronavirus cases exceed 7,300, with 137 dead across the country.

“Our value for profit over human life is driving our response to a health crisis,” Bilawal said. “The federal government has its priorities wrong and the whole country could suffer as a result.”

The PPP chairman then urged the government to, “Support our healthcare system. Support our labourers. Support those who need it most.” In a later tweet, Bilawal said he had asked party leaders to record Covid-19 awareness messages in their mother tongues. “Not sure what the government is doing on awareness messaging. Have asked PPP leaders across the country to record #COVID19 awareness messages in their mother tongue. Lets spread the word. Stay safe stay home.”

Across the country, Friday prayers saw relatively thin attendance, but a number of mosques defied government restrictions aimed at preventing coronavirus spread. An AFP photographer’s camera captured packed to capacity Lal Masjid in Islamabad, while several other mosques defied government bans.

In Lahore, doctors protested against the lack of personal protective equipment, and footage on Geo News depicted sporadic scuffles between doctors and law enforcement.

The Sindh High Court rejected a plea filed against the restriction on congregational prayers in mosques, and declared that the authorities were taking the measures to ensure the safety of lives amid the spread of a novel epidemic.

Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to Pakistan Paul Jones has said his country will provide over $8 million to help Pakistan combat coronavirus. In a video message, Jones said that Washington is a partner with Islamabad to combat coronavirus and announcement of over $8 million dollars contributions is a step in this regard.

He said out of the $8 million, $3 million will be used in providing three new mobile labs so Pakistanis living in virus hotspots can be tested, treated, and monitored to stop the spread. One million dollars will be spent for funding high-tech emergency operations centres in Islamabad, Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan while $2 million is allocated to train community healthcare workers to assist people in their homes to lessen the burden on hospitals.

He said $2.4 million will be spent for conducting life-saving activities in Afghan refugee and host communities in Pakistan through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.