Daily Times

Francis fukuyama’s end of history and the last man was the harbinger that as cold war is over so there will be the lasting peace and tranquillity. Hot war, cold war or war by other means, have all become suddenly a leaf from Arabian nights. Whimsical, yet believable as a parable to satiate human nerves. History of twenty thousand years of homo erectus, homo sapiens and the present day homo disruptus(playing havoc with climate and habitats) is about to end. The era of homo digitalis has just begun riding the waves of covid-19. Everything is now going to be digital, even humans. The humans are left at their famous thirty nine steps as narrated by the novel of john Buchan in 1915. Theological ethics of human advancement and enhancement was already drawing new lines once this pandemic hit the world. Everyone was least prepared, covid-19 has two characteristics, one it is a health hazard if acquired, and second it has the capability to dissolve the complete society in its acidic RNA and DNA. It attacks human health and destroys the political economy of every segment of society, irrespective of social hierarchical order. It functions and propagates itself cashing upon the human nature of care, caress, nurture and touch, human without a sense of touch is hardly a human anymore, thus born the homo digitalis. Biggest irony, it has taken away the power of touch, through which humans in last 10000 years of history have surmounted all the, upheavals, calamities and disruptions.

Aim should be to maintain positive growth even in trying times, sustaining employment in all segments of public and private enterprises and keeping the inflation as low as possible

The antidote is still months away if not years, what to do, what should be the state’s response. Nothing can now be left to chance. Every course has to be charted. The compass of accurate knowledge always directs the shortest, safest and the cheapest course to destination. Fight against the pandemic is the war as declared by the country’s leadership. If it is a war then for sure it is a federal subject despite the 18th amendment in the constitution and the elimination of concurrent list. Doctors, paramedics, police and army are doing a great job in their spheres but there has to be a comprehensive plan (even subsidiaries of army, like NUST,FFC,Ordnance factories, DHA Lahore and many other are helping the people to fight this menace). The response of provinces in their sincerest of efforts will not accrue desired results as covid-19 is smart enough to live in overlapping territorial and social jurisdiction. Enemy is evolving by every passing day. Plan has to be federal both in nature and intent. There are five direct threats that are emerging with the lightening speed. One and the biggest is the covid-19. Second is the seasonal epidemic of dengue which is about to start in coming two to three weeks. Third is the overwhelming growth in the count and number (800 times as compared to last attack) of locust in Africa. This is likely to start its journey from hard hit seven countries of eastern Africa and can reach Pakistan in four to six weeks. Fourth is the slowing down of Pakistani economic cycle due to lock down and disruption in production and transportations. Fifth is the perennial demonstration of animosity by India upping the ante at all the borders of Pakistan. Taking these threats one by one, for covet-19 there has to be national plan which includes all the stake holders, departments and first responders of the society. Smart lock down could be an answer, cause as there is an increased demand of Pakistani bed linen, towels and rice in the world, therefore with appropriate measures this opportunity has to be availed. Pakistan can become the food supply chain giant in this hour of crisis with its surplus of all the major food items, it is already amongst the top ten countries in the production of wheat, rice, sugar, fruits, milk and vegetables. There is a need to manage agriculture on war footings. Such pandemics are now a part of the life of humans, if one does not want to lose the sense of touch again, then Pakistan as a country has to prepare itself simultaneously for such a threat, which is, may be three years or five years away. Virology and molecular biology along with bio-informatics has to be securitized. This part is a pure matter of national security. For the epidemic of dengue all the good practices of yester years are to be started as soon as possible. Army in a big way is already helping the national effort to fight the threat of locust. It is again a matter of national security being directly threatening the food security of the country. Concentrating on the industry and agriculture without wasting a day, will jump start the economy. Interest rates reduction, changes in fiscal policies or to measure, which is better at this time the pursuance of monetary string or the fiscal, is a matter upon which experts can help to decide. Aim should be to maintain positive growth even in trying times, sustaining employment in all segments of public and private enterprises and keeping the inflation as low as possible. As for the India, it is already trying to divert Pakistan to tackle the problems of the pandemic of covid-19, the epidemic of dengue, the locust and the economic down turn. Pakistan’s strategic elite is alive to all these developments and over the years, Pakistani state has learnt to generate a graduated response. Big brother forget the over correction, raise the bogey if you like and draw your hackney coach to nowhere.

The writer is a freelance contributor on security related issues. He is also a Ph.D Scholar who can be reached at sindhulatif@gmail.com Twitter: @Abid_Latif55