The coronavirus pandemic has tremendously affected our lives; once abuzz markets and shopping malls are now silent, traffic on highways is few and far between, wedding halls are closed, and offices are deserted. With every passing day, the number of positive cases of COVID-19 is increasing. Experts are predicting an exponential increase in the cases in coming days.
The pandemic has posed multifaceted problems to the provincial governments. While they are short of human resource and expertise to conduct tests of suspects, at the same time they are finding it ever hard to provide necessary health care to the confirmed patients. Lack of testing kits in the laboratories and ventilators in the ICUs is unnerving both the governments and the relatives of the patients.
In the given circumstances, it is pretty much possible that the provinces might go for a complete lockdown. Two provinces – Punjab and Balochistan – have already requisitioned armed forces for assistance to control the unnecessary movement of the people and contain further spread of the virus. In such a scenario, it is important to ensure availability of necessary food items to the masses.
In the given circumstances, it is pretty much possible that the provinces might go for a complete lockdown
What challenges might arise regarding food supply, in case of a complete lock down and how the provincial governments should cope with these challenges are the serious most policy contours which require an in depth and thorough response framework. To ensure availability of food to the people; it is necessary that retailer stores, wholesalers, grocery shops, meat shops, bakeries, and milk shops remain open as usual. Due to a ban on inter provincial and inter-district public transport, transporters might face unnecessary delays at checkpoints. It is important that the law enforcement agencies are directed to make the clearance of such vehicles quick and hassle free. This is very important for an uninterrupted and smooth maintenance of food supply chain. A dedicated control room may be established at provincial headquarters to coordinate with other provinces to sort out any problems arising at provincial borders with regard to transport of food items.
Simultaneously and if need be, the provincial government may requisition the cold storage facilities of the private sector and store the perishable food items there. The eateries should remain open to the extent of serving take-away only. This is imperative that at least one month’s food stockpile should be available with the provinces in reserve to shore up the local market supplies in case of any interruption of inter-provincial supply chains. The reserves should include essential non-perishable food items such as – wheat, rice, sugar, tea, cooking oil, salt and pulses. In extreme cases, the provinces should also make their contingency plants for introduction of rationing of food to ensure supply of food to all. There is a strong possibility that profiteers might take advantage of the situation, and hoard food items to create a false shortage in the market. The provincial governments should remain highly vigilant and keep a close eye on such elements.
These are testing times for us as a nation. Nothing can give us more strength in our fight against Corona virus than our unity as a nation and resolve to defeat this pandemic. We can learn from the best practices of the nations that have successfully fought off this menace. China, Taiwan and Singapore stand out among the comity of nations who have successfully warded off the Corona virus – at least for now. We should study and adopt their strategies in our battle against the virus.
The writer is Secretary to Government of Balochistan for Industries & Commerce Department Email id: majid_buhair @yahoo.com