Daily Times

I wrote this article while flying back from Quetta early morning after spending two days in Quetta. I also discussed this virus with CM Baluchistan and some senior high ranking officials of the Baluchistan Govt.

I, in fact had to pass the instruction for suo motto action after assessing that coronavirus has reached in Pakistan. The arrival of 7500 persons from Iran after the discovery of coronavirus in Iran was creating a suspect that the infected persons might also be present among them. I therefore spoke to Dr. Zafar Mirza informing him about my observations.

I must say that Dr. Zafar is doing a great job and he honored my request regarding confirmation of presence of Coronavirus patients among those who had arrived from Iran.

I appreciate that he did confirm the presence of coronavirus through open announcement, which called for an emergency meeting that was attended by all the stake holders.

My sincere thoughts were jolted down as under which were to be printed but missed.

People across the country are panic today soon after the news flash came that the government confirmed the first two cases of Coronavirus in Pakistan. The monster killer Coronavirus is now spreading globally almost unhindered. The stormy attack of the deadly virus will leave far ending direct impacts on the affected countries whereas the states are nervous and the leadership is worried about their people. Countries that have been identified with the moderate number of patients and they have taken strict actions since new cases of this infection in the central Chinese city of Wuhan are being reported daily around the world.

The monster killer Coronavirus is now spreading globally almost unhindered. The stormy attack of the deadly virus will leave far ending direct impacts on the affected countries whereas the states are nervous and the leadership is worried about their people

In mainland China, 2,715 people have died from COVID-19, as the illness is officially known, while more than 78,064 infections have been confirmed, according to the World Health Organization. Hundreds of cases have been confirmed around the world, with the virus now present in more than 30 nations. So far in Afghanistan 1, Algeria 1, Australia 23, Austria 2, Bahrain 26, Belgium 1, Cambodia 1, Canada 11, China 78,064, Croatia 1, Egypt 1, Finland 1, France 17, Germany 17, Greece 1, India 3, Iran 139, Iraq 5, Italy 323, Japan 171 and 691, Kuwait 18, Lebanon 1, Malaysia 22, Israel 2, Nepal 1, Oman 2, Philippines 3, Russia 2, Singapore 91, South Korea 1,261, Spain 6, Sri Lanka 1, Sweden 1, Switzerland 1, Taiwan 31, Thailand 40, United Arab Emirates 13, United Kingdom 13, United States 57 and 16 cases are confirmed in Vietnam. The statistics released so far above show the highly dangerous trend of the continuous increase in the number of victims of Coronavirus across the globe which is risking the lives of healthy human beings. This needs to be countered properly before it starts affecting more lives and it is the basic responsibility of every state to provide life protection to its citizens. The impact of Coronavirus is highly dangerous as so far there is no proper medical treatment of this deadly disease hence we need to create awareness among our nation by educating the common people, training our paramedics and taking precautionary measures on an emergency basis. The media needs to move an awareness plan fast for the information of common people as Coronavirus is highly dangerous and has been given the name ‘anti-economy virus’ which has already given serious dent in the production and exports of China. Let us not be optimistic about ignoring the forthcoming challenge of Coronavirus which can only be avoided through proper measures. We all know that our west border neighbors have already numerous cases. Iran has not released the exact figures fearing low turnout of upcoming elections. I have a valid question to let people of Pakistan know that what guarantees the zero diagnoses of Coronavirus in Pakistan till today before the two new cases were confirmed as it is a very logical and thought-provoking question. I can say with information that certain cases have been reported from specific areas including diesel smugglers from Iran. This erupted in the first week of December 2019 while the news broke out in the international domain at the end of January 2020. How we can overrule that no patient had entered Pakistan with Coronavirus so far.

(to be continued)

The writer is Former Interior Minister of Pakistan, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Chairman of Think Tank “Global Eye”