Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has stated that it was a shame that the federal government was busy fighting with the Sindh government instead of taking steps to control the coronavirus outbreak.
During a meeting with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, he said, “Measures to control the outbreak were taken in a timely manner due to the Sindh government.”
He stated that the rise in the number of deaths due to COVID-19 was “alarming” for the federal and provincial governments, adding that the country’s situation was becoming “worrisome”.
Both the leaders discussed the provincial government’s measures for combating the coronavirus pandemic. The chief minister briefed the PPP chairman on the steps taken in the fight against coronavirus.
Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho also informed Bilawal about the measures being taken by the provincial health department to combat the spread of COVID-19.
On the occasion, the PPP chairman appreciated the steps taken by the Sindh government to control the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the province. He said the Sindh government took timely and effective measures that were also lauded by the world community.
“The situation could have worsened in the country if Sindh government had not taken immediate measures,” he added.
Meanwhile, Bilawal in a tweet on Sunday lamented lack of actions on the part of the Federal Ministry for Food Security to tackle the menace of locust attacks on crops.
“Fed Ministry for food security is again missing in actions as Locusts attack crops across Pakistan. Last year despite our pleas provinces were left at the mercy of locusts,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle, sharing a British daily’s news story about risks locust swarms posed to the country’s food security.
“If the federal govt fails to act this is another disaster in the making,” he cautioned. Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah in a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan drew his attention to the federal government’s assurance to improve coordination between the Centre and provincial authorities and had instructed for provision of aircraft and pesticides for aerial spray in the affected areas. He said, “A massive locust attack is expected in Sindh next month. Farmlands in Sindh would once again come under attack of locust swarms from Iran by May 15, 2020, which could prove more harmful for the crops in the province as compared to the locust attack of last year.”
