The casualties and financial losses by the deadly coronavirus are increasing day by day but all over the world, most affected countries have almost controlled or reduced the increasing numbers of cases and deaths. The United States is still on top in figures and Brazil is on second in the race. However, the initial toppers like Spain, Italy, France and the United Kingdom have almost reduced the ratio of increasing numbers in terms of deaths and new cases.
If we talk about Asian countries, India and Pakistan are now especially being badly affected. According to international data providers, India is at number six and Pakistan is at number fifteen. Recently, Pakistan crossed the six-digit figures in confirmed cases.
Initially, when the pandemic had started from China and later from Iran, Pakistan had sufficient time for preparedness at the federal and provincial level and all public and private sector machinery was busy arranging infrastructures and facilities. Everybody was confident and satisfied about the arrangements for this deadly disease. The ratio of new cases was very low daily so that everybody was thinking that the virus is not as much deadly as it is found in Europe and other countries.
Confirmed cases were very down but at that time, there was more fear. Even, the media was panicking about the possible spread of the virus. If we look and compare the figures for three different readings, we can easily understand the trend of the virus in Pakistan. As we know, the first confirmed case declared on 26th of February and ten days before the eve of Eid, the total number of confirmed cases was just 37,218 with 803 deaths. Right after ten days, on Eid day, there were 56,349 confirmed cases with 1167 deaths. The third figure is after ten days of Eid that is 103,671 confirmed cases with 2067 deaths. We have crossed six-figures in confirmed cases and two thousand in deaths caused by COVID-19. Why? Because we decided to bring coronavirus complimentary along with eid shopping. So now we cannot blame anybody.
Complete lockdown by Sindh government and later by federal and other provincial governments was the only solution to stop this virus. But unfortunately, we are a very poor country and do not have sufficient resources to feed our people during the lockdown, as other countries did. Some materialistic and opportunist groups pressurised decision-makers to ease the lockdown so that traders and merchants could earn their usual profit and business during eid season.
The only way to stop the virus was social distancing but we preferred our short-term business instead of long term health and lives of common people
On the 18th of May, the top court of Pakistan also ordered to open all business malls and centres for the sake of the business community. By keeping the court’s order in view, governments at the federal and provincial level decided to open all business activities across the country with some strict precautionary measures.
Traders and business communities assured to follow procedures defined by the government during business activities but unfortunately, it was very hard to follow simple instructions at grass-root levels. The only way to stop the virus was social distancing but we preferred our short-term business instead of long term health and lives of common people.
The role of print and electronic media in this regard was also very discouraging. Aggressive discussions and blame-games in talk shows during prime times were only for the sake of good rating. It never helped to sensitise the people about the dangers of the pandemic. Before lockdown, media was escalating it as an issue against the government that why was the government not taking serious steps for lockdown. And when the government decided to take strict measures, the same channels started programs against lockdowns. In short, it was also helping create panic only just for the sake of a good rating or something else.
We politicised this genuine problem and even political parties started blame games in either case of a lockdown, smart lockdown or no lockdown. The uncontrolled social media also played the usual role in creating panic only. Groups backed by different political parties started posting unnecessary and baseless posts simply to create panic. Social media users also shared unnecessary posts at individual levels. As a nation, it was time to show unity and support to each other but again we preferred personal short term profits and to earn money during the peak time of business opportunities of eid. The shoppers were in such a hurry to buy everything including clothes and shoes in a way like this is the last eid for them or after several years authorities allowed them for shopping.
Before that governments, both at federal and provincial level tried their level best to support as relief funds and ration supply. As of today, the federal government disbursed total amount (in Pak Rs. million) 119,036.04 in cash. But now it seems that all these efforts are just useless due to those few days’ businesses and careless attitude of shoppers and citizens. Ironically, all sectors are pressurising decision-makers at a different level to open their relevant businesses. No doubt, this is the reality that financially, we are not in a position to completely stay at home and follow social distancing to avoid virus spread. But this was the only solution to break the chain of this virus.
Governments, health professionals and workers, law enforcement agencies, district administrations and armed forces did their level best. All their efforts can be useless until and unless if we do not keep ourselves away from gatherings and public places. We have a lot of examples like some far eastern countries did complete lockdown and now they have zero cases.
We have different approach and attitude, instead of following government instructions we love to criticise and love to play blame games. That’s why now we are breaking records and competing for other toppers in current deadly pandemic statistics.
Government should take strict measures again including complete lockdown to keep everybody at home. Print, electronic and social media should also come forward to play an effective and positive role to sensitise common citizens so that they can stay at home to break the chain of this virus. As this is the only solution to tackle this problem and to avoid the worst situation otherwise it will be very difficult to control the situation. Government is expecting and requesting only one thing from citizens that is social distancing.
The writer is associated with the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and views expressed by him are his own and do not necessarily reflect SDPI’s official stance