Daily Times

In reference to the worsening situation in Punjab specifically in Lahore government of Punjab is implementing smart lockdown in cities. Areas where infection spread is high are sealed and the movement in those areas is restricted. Despite of all such efforts infection spread is still out of control, who is responsible for this? Government, virus, or its us. Should we blame government for the spread? when the concerned departments are working on streets, hospitals, in offices just to make sure the safety of people they are serving, without even having enough resources and ignoring their own health. Just as recently I saw a news on TV where Director General of Punjab Food Authority Irfan Nawaz Memon raided food points just to make sure the provision of save food to public in this crucial time, Primary and secondary healthcare department’s employers are ensuring the dissemination of right information and educating people regarding coronavirus through different mediums and many such other examples are out there which screams out loud that our government departments are doing their best in their maximum capacity to contribute productively in the contemporary crisis. As far as the ease in lockdown is concerned, so people really need to understand this hard decision was done in consideration of our collapsing economy not for the entertainment of people so they can wander on roads and in markets just as nothing has happened or is happening. So, its hard to put a blame on government.

Another convenient option to blame is virus, the insanity to save face, unfortunately people are saying this too, that why even its existing in first place. So, for just the sake of record to counter this approach; that’s what we call nature. Nature has always had its own way of playing, whether that’s natural disasters e.g. earthquakes, floods, storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruption e.g. or pandemics e.g. Asian flu, black death, Spanish flu and now the coronavirus. We simply can’t fight them not even we can question; all we can do is to try our best to minimize the catastrophe of such events and find ways to save ourselves from them. Cutting down to the last option Us, are we the ones to blame? Unfortunately, the sudden spread might have something to do with us; the population living in the lines of Pakistan. Take a troll of markets and other public places, which apparently were opened to save our collapsing economy has now taken a shape of entertainment for people But is it compulsory even in the situation of pandemic? When people are dying out there, our health workers our government departments and other respective stakeholders are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the safety of people what we are doing just throwing their noble efforts in vain. As a responsible citizen shouldn’t we helping them cooperating with them, show little respect to their efforts above all at least thinking about our own health?

Fortunately, the strategy of smart lockdown and special efforts by Secretary health. Captain (R) Muhammad Usman has decreased the spread but still people are not cooperating with authorities as required. Ease in lockdown does not mean that people are allowed to shop and wander unduly. People need to follow SOP’s more carefully now because Eid festive is coming. Unfortunately, people still are ignoring SOPs. Nobody is paying attention to one core direction given by the health experts “Social distancing” has blown and ignored in a way that there is no pandemic we are living in. People are shopping as if there is no tomorrow. No doubt it was not easy for government also to take such bold and risky step; ease in lockdown but in reference to economic collapse they were compelled to do so. But our noble departments are trying their best to ensure the wellbeing of general public and limit the spread of infection, but we on other side are not paying heed to their efforts. Such an irresponsible behavior of citizens does not pose threat to their own lives but can lead to Pakistan into irreparable loss. People also must think over this and follow SOPs. Even if are going out to cattle markets take good care of SOP’s and help slow or stop the spread of virus. Life is a precious thing we definitely don’t want to burden our families and our country with our cadavers. Don’t play with your and your family’s lives, be cautious, and follow SOPs that government has defined for us even we have to leave house for the basic necessities. Act responsibly and be even more cautious because of Eid occasion.