Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday criticized a statement by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah about Karachi hospitals having received numerous near-death patients, and said it will create nothing but panic among the people.
In a televised address to the nation accompanied by his economic and health team, the prime minister took a jibe at the Sindh government for creating panic with statements that the government is hiding the total number of deaths caused by the novel coronavirus. He said it is not a time for politicking, adding that announcing on television that there is a surge in deaths without any investigation will only cause panic. He said the national command and control center assesses the situation on a daily basis and any such figures can be verified from there before making such statements. He also urged the provinces to stay united in the time of crisis.
The prime minister said the country will stand victorious in the ongoing war against Covid-19 pandemic only if it succeeds in control poverty despite the measures to contain coronavirus. “When this (coronavirus) will end, if there is a rise in poverty level at that time, it means we have lost the war. This crisis will mainly impact the poor class. This is a challenge. If we come out of this (crisis) without bringing more miseries to poor, we will win,” he said.
Spelling out the priorities and measures taken by the government to maintain a balance between the lockdown and economic stability, the prime minister said the decisions will come to fruition only if those are made considering the problems of the poor class. He said the ratio of coronavirus cases is lower than the feared estimates of around 50,000 till April 25. Now the revised projection predicts it around 12,000 to 15,000 by the said time. He said as the Covid-19 cases will surely increase, the government is expecting a tough time between May 15-25 when hospitals can be under pressure, adding the pressure can be delayed even further if people take required precautions giving the government more space to strengthen its healthcare system to meet any crisis. However, he said when compared with the fatality rate out of coronavirus cases worldwide, Pakistan is fortunate one.
The prime minister said the government is currently in the process of procuring ventilators and personal protective equipment to prepare for the potential spike in cases and deaths next month. He credited the country’s lower number of confirmed Covid-19 cases than previously projected to timely actions by the government. “We acted promptly in March when we only had a few cases. Sindh enforced a stricter lockdown, we quarantined pilgrims from Iran at Taftan border and we screened passengers at the airport. So you see, we’re now reaping benefits of quick decision making,” he added.
Imran Khan said the government has decided to open the construction sector and some industries considering the sufferings of the working class. He said the government in Pakistan cannot extend relief assistance to every individual for lacking their data like the European countries where people get such assistance in their bank accounts. Though the government is providing Rs 12,000 each to around 12 million families, many will still require support, he said. “If the poor people take to streets out of hunger, it will undermine the whole purpose of the lockdown,” he said, and urged the rich to extend their support to the poor countrymen as no society can survive with an ‘island of rich and ocean of poor’.
Rubbishing the notions, the prime minister said the relief to the construction sector has nothing to do with any amnesty and instead aims at supporting the poor by creating employment opportunities.
Commenting on some videos circulating on social media showing the police torturing the people for violating the lockdown, he said the lockdown cannot be enforced by use of force rather only by teaching the people about its benefits and objectives. “Be gentle, I understand that there’s a lot of pressure on you (police). But we can’t enforce a lockdown if we’re strict with our people. If people do not get rations, there is no way they will not come out on the streets and our efforts to control the virus will fail. Harsh measures are unlikely to work,” he cautioned, and urged the opinion makers including artists, ulema and news anchors to guide the people as the lockdown is just for their own protection.
The prime minister said though after consultation between President Arif Alvi and ulema, some guidelines have been agreed upon for Tarawih prayers during the upcoming Ramazan, the prayer leaders must ensure social distancing to avert the closure of mosques in case of the virus outbreak.
The prime minister again warned the hoarders of food items and wheat smugglers of strict punishment as the government has promulgated ordinances to protect the poor people from the artificial inflation during this already tough situation.
