Daily Times

Sir: The world is badly hit by Coronavirus and unfortunately, researchers are hardly working for a vaccine throughout the world. Instead of searching for a treatment and highlighting precautions, the media instead focuses on emphasizing the number of causalities, as so it seems. In the near past, we found the nation fighting dengue, which could not be addressed properly during that peak times because of a late start.

I think for some reason we respond slow and take a late start. Perhaps we try to handle all disasters with Political Will, inviting field specialists on board at a second stage. In the current scenario, when the virus came into existence in neighbouring countries, we could have initiated a response immediately because of China (our main streamline partner of Pakistan CPEC) and main business support along with frequent travel through Road/Air by human and transport maybe thousands a day.

Recent measures show we are locking down our own travel means but, again, took a very late start to travel from abroad to Pakistan, Tafatan, Iran border, for example. Supreme Court of Pakistan has stated it more than a few times on media. In recent announce made by Punjab Govt officials, March 19, 2020, I read from media restaurants/hotels/shopping malls will be closing by 10 pm, perhaps for Lahore, and Markets will remain open (without specific precautions). Meaning, thereby viruses may travel after 10 pm from these places at night. Whereas, in actuality, it travels at any time is not time-bound. The virus can very much travel through Transport means. Of course, we have to keep running these markets for foods and consumable items for common use. Henceforth, a check must be performed from where transports start in the country or even entering Pakistan. Sir: It is advisable to make arrangements to keep an alert people who are in slum areas, having devoid of consciousness, maintaining cleanliness on the ground and all possible such places around them which can harbour viruses and make threats to spread and enhance panic in the masses.

AS KHALID

Lahore