Daily Times

I wrote my first article (Feb 5, Daily Times) on the impending threats of a pandemic building up in China and its apprehensive fall out effects on Pakistan and other neighbours in the region.I expressed my great concern as regards miserable paucity in proper healthcare facilities in the country that could hardly meet the challenge of any eventuality even of minor magnitude. I remember how badly we had fared following the earthquake in 2005. Not only us but even India did not have powerful fire tenders to put off Mumbai Taj fire in the aftermath of terrorist attack in November 2008. Earlier this month Gas leak in Keamari port resulted in 14 deaths and hospitalisation of several others. Our experts to this day have not spoken the last world as to what was actual cause of fatalities.

Unfortunately despite growing concern over the lack of facilities to meet any eventuality, no effort seems to be talked about regarding the urgency to create public awareness. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Health Adviser Dr Zafar Mirza no doubt showed exceptional swiftness in ordering import of testing kits and face masks to counter the threat as if these were enough. Later it came out that import of masks worth several million was ordered for onward sale to China. China is our traditional friend and we did good to import face masks for them as well. One hopes FIA inquiry into the alleged shady deal in the import of face masks would unveil the culprits.

While we are grappling with the pandemic, one felt proud to know that WHO has singled out the Sindh Government, its Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Adviser Barrister Murtaza Wahab for best in the world counter anti-corona virus strategy. It is, indeed, a matter of pride for Sindh government to have shown the world how to combat the pandemic. CM Murad Ali Shah speedily took the decision to close down all educational institutions, PSL matches for public attendance, banned public gatherings, weddings, congregational prayers in mosques, and isolation for over 70s.

In the overall context of the fight against corona virus, one must appreciate timely article by Yasmeen Ali, a leading columnist in Daily Times, under the caption: ‘Is Pakistan prepared for coronavirus? Indeed, as she herself answered the question– obviously not! She is absolutely right in asserting that-‘We never are prepared for anything staring into our cumulative faces. This one is a killer and Pakistan will be fighting a losing battle if the pandemic breaks out, keeping in mind, lack of any preparation.’ Remember, May 2, 2011, when American helicopters invaded Abbotabad, killed Osama Bin Laden and took his body. It was a sheer act of blatant violation of our territorial sovereignty and it definitely caught our high and mighty defenders with their pants down.

In her well-written article she has put across from WHO website as to what is defined as a pandemic as “the worldwide spread of a new disease.” It does not deal with the intensity of the disease but rather its global spread. Americans are as back ward as we in Pakistan. President Trump let a whiff of fresh air when he gave the impression that American scientists have discovered a curative vaccine when it was just invention of a testing kit that reduced testing time. Yasmeen rightly points out that so far there is no vaccine for this kind of corona virus infection. Indeed, the magnitude and ferocity of pandemic requires intensive research and collective efforts worldwide in the scientist community to invent an effective vaccine.

Every country has a different testing method. Countries like UK, Italy and South Korea are testing different numbers of people per million to check out the existence of this strain of the virus. (One example is South Korea that conducted 4,000 tests per million people between January to March). Airport Screening is being done as well even other transport spots like railway stations and public transport like bus hubs are checked. The UK has stepped up screening of passengers arriving from coronavirus sensitive countries including China, Malaysia, Japan, Pakistan and Iran. Experts say checking temperatures of disembarking passengers is not good enough to cover to detect the presence of the disease.

While we are grappling with the pandemic, one felt proud to know that WHO has singled out the Sindh Government, its Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Adviser Barrister Murtaza Wahab for best in the world counter anti-corona virus strategy

Yasmeen Ali rightly laments that unfortunately, the Federation of Pakistan has not so far taken this emergency seriously. Indeed, it has yet to wake up to realise the impending gravity and adopt certain procedures to a) ensure protection from spreading and b) from handling the spreading of the epidemic. One sees none of the two. Furthermore, coordination that must exist between the Federation and the Provinces with regards to coronavirus is lacking. The latter was a point well noted by Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Spokesperson for the Sindh government.

In a tweet journalist Raza Rumi has suggested immediate travel restrictions – ban on all public congregations -including congregations in mosques, closure of schools & colleges must be ensured at all cost. The meagre amount of money allocated by the Federal government is nothing but a joke. There is has no funding for mobilising public awareness campaign.

Indeed, in our country where the majority of the population’s main concern is about availability of the next meal, it is good to know the assurance of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah that in his province government would not permit any household to go hungry. One expects administrations in other provinces too to follow Sindh Government’s footsteps. Like Sindh, other provinces too must join hands to create a strong public awareness campaign. It means to generate responsibilities among citizens to avoid the pandemic and promptly take steps to deal with the cases as they happen. All points covering hygiene must be communicated to the people. Also, it must be made mandatory for all moving out of their homes to wear protective masks. It must also be ensured that masks are available and profiteers do not fleece buyers. (Recently in Lahore a box for Rs 70 was selling for Rs 500) For low-income groups, arrangements to provide the masks for free must be made.

While I was writing this piece I received a WhatsApp message from a group of young Pakistani students in London headed by Mehdi Ali along with his neighbours giving telephone numbers to elderly neighbours to call them for any groceries and to run errands for them-especially those who are over 70 and have been advised by the health authorities to self-isolate themselves from becoming victim to the pandemic.

Since there is a worldwide search for a vaccine to kill the virus, Chinese scientists, taking the lead, have come up with their discovery that Quinine Sulphate if taken as anti-dote, may not kill the disease but would definitely minimise its lethality. No harm trying it. It is said that coronavirus has some similarities with malaria, is more lethal and yet its impact can be reduced by daily intake of quinine sulphate 200 gram.

The writer is former High Commissioner of Pakistan to UK and veteran journalist