Wahab warns of harsh lockdown curbs if SOP violations continue

Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister on Law and Environment Barrister Murtaza Wahab has earnestly appealed to the people in the province to adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) prescribed by the government against the spread of the novel coronavirus in order to avoid imposition of harsh lockdown restrictions.

Addressing a press conference at the Sindh Assembly on Monday, he said the coronavirus positivity ratio reaching 23 per cent in Karachi was an alarming phenomenon. Wahab, who also acts as the spokesman for the Sindh government, said that just 10 days back, the same positivity rate in Karachi was just eight per cent. “It is in the interest of the citizens to act upon the SOPs as the government doesn’t want to impose restrictions,” he remarked.

He said the rapid increase in the coronavirus cases pointed out an alarming health situation emerging in the province. “Everyone is required to wear face masks and act upon the SOPs. We want people to observe the SOPs so that the government is not required to impose any restriction,” he added.

He warned that the government would be compelled to take stern decisions if the SOPs were not followed and the situation became out of control. The law adviser explained that the government had not tightened the lockdown restrictions in view of the fact that people wanted to shop and hold wedding receptions around the Eid. He said the government kept the lockdown restrictions relaxed with the direction that people should act upon the SOPs but the publis at large was not observing due safety precautions. “Resultantly, the positivity ratio has increased to 23 per cent.”

He said hospitalisation would further rise if people continued to show carelessness. Wahab appealed to the people to get themselves vaccinated against the coronavirus infection as vaccine was available with the government in abundance. He criticised leaders of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf for not wearing masks during public appearances, which made people confused as they deemed it was not very important to wear marks.

He termed political leaders not wearing masks hypocrisy on part of the ruling elite. He said Covid-19 was a real disease as its devastating impacts could be seen all over the world. He added that the coronavirus positivity ratio in Gilgit-Baltistan had increased to 33 per cent while in Islamabad, it was eight per cent.