A difficult time of trial has befallen the nation due to the spreading of coronavirus. This is a difficult time, not only for the nation but also for the individuals and the world. This government is going through a difficult phase because it has to make tough decisions. On the one hand, the responsibility to save the lives of the people lies with the government and on the other hand, lies the economy. If the government saves the lives of the people, the economy is destroyed and if it saves the economy, lives are lost. But this needs to be decided by the government itself. However, continuing a long-term lockdown policy can lead to more deaths due to the collapse of the economy and push people further into poverty. In contrast, a soft lockdown policy can increase the number of coronavirus patients in the country. It is also difficult for the government to make the right decisions based on current data on the one hand and lack of resources and technology on the other.
For example, the government has strict directions to close all shops except medical shops after 5 pm. But it is now a common practice that the shopkeeper somehow stands outside the shop and as soon as the customer comes in front of the shop, he takes him in the shop with a gesture and shutters come down at once; giving him the things he needs. The police can be seen roaming in the bazaars but they cannot bust all shopkeepers. Such problems can be monitored entirely at low-cost through technology.
When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in China, the Chinese controlled it by making good use of technology; using mathematical models and employing scientific approaches. In addition to taking drastic measures, the people were confined to their homes, which is why today, they have complete control over the pandemic. Although there is no shortage of labour in China, they still used scientific models and technology mostly because technology makes the right decisions.
Although there is no shortage of labour in China, they still used scientific models and technology mostly because technology makes the right decisions
China has used drones to monitor market activities, which has had great benefits. Whenever the drone saw a person walking in the bazaars while not wearing a mask, he was warned through drone loudspeaker for wearing a mask.
Robots were used to serve the coronavirus patients in health departments, which proved to be very useful and efficient. Robots were used in isolated wards where doctors were afraid to go. This means that the nursing work was taken from the robots.
In big malls and bazaars, cameras were set up to monitor the fever of everyone entering and leaving the malls. This led to the early identification of coronavirus patients, which is why the Chinese government took control of coronavirus before it spread.
The use of such innumerable technologies has not only yielded useful results but has also created a big economic market in the world. By setting an example, they have started selling their products, which have taken over a great share in the technology market, which has so far made a lot of money and created jobs for their youth.
China is an evergreen friend of Pakistan. The two help each other in difficult situations. Pakistan also helped China during coronavirus pandemic and send a team of doctors to China. Now that Pakistan is badly stuck, China is also helping its friend in providing medical and essential items. If China provides Pakistan with robots, drones and the technology that it used in its hospitals, bazaars and everywhere else, Pakistan can easily get out of this difficult time. China took the technology to the front line so that the lives of its doctors could be saved. At the moment, our front line doctors are being severely affected by the coronavirus, which is causing difficulties to coronavirus patients.
Mr Fawad Chaudhry, Minister for Science and Technology, created a calendar model of moon sighting and solved one of the most controversial issues of the Eid moon. At the time of COVID-19, when Pakistan was facing a severe shortage of ventilators, he took credit for developing a ventilator model for manufacturing it on a local basis. Today, Pakistan is developing its ventilators. Indeed. The credit goes to Mr Fawad Chaudhry. Now, the government needs to develop a mathematical model for computing a more realistic picture of the infection rate that leads to COVID-19. With the help of this model, governments can better estimate how long the virus will last and how bad it will be. Besides, the population density of an area, how many people are affected by the coronavirus, the proportion of coronavirus population in urban areas where people live nearby, and infected coronavirus population ratio of people of all ages can be estimated. Governments can later use these numbers to improve health care and worker readiness. Many governments around the world are using these models to achieve successful results for controlling coronavirus and to support their economies.
It is hoped that the honourable Minister for Science and Technology will also pay attention to this approach. Indeed, this mathematical model, which has been suggested by various data scientists and mathematicians, can facilitate the governments by providing a uniform model so that they can make their decisions correctly and timely; saving hundreds of lives.
The writer is a student of DSS at the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. He is interested in agriculture, national and international politics