Hopefully now, as the prime minister has promised to monitor implementation of SOPs (standard
operating procedures), some of the most senior government officials will also take the matter seriously.
It would help if the prime minister personally set an example as well, and started wearing a mask, not
the least so others can learn from him and follow his example. It is precisely because of the carelessness
of far too many people that Pakistan has moved from a country with one of the lowest counts of
coronavirus cases to now find a place in the top 10 countries in terms of number of cases. There is also
something to be said about deploying the tiger force, etc, to seal off areas after they report a sudden
surge in cases. While such actions are no doubt necessary the prime focus must still be on prevention.
Unfortunately everybody knows how the government feels about measures that ensure prevention
rather than a cure, but the PM is right in appreciating the fact that the time has come to punish anybody
who violates SOPs. For one of the many ways in which the coronavirus is different from any disaster or
plague in living memory is its highly contagious nature. Therefore, by acting irresponsibly and exposing
themselves to the virus, people also immediately endanger the lives of everybody they come in contact
with; especially immediate family and colleagues. And one reason the number of infections has shot up
so sharply in Pakistan, on top of the government’s inadequate policy measures, is what can rightly be
described as unforgivable behaviour on part of far too many people. Even when the whole world was
locked down, even all places of worship were closed, Pakistan decided to act differently and the federal
government was severely criticising the lockdowns ordered by provincial governments.
Since most countries were able to enforce strict lockdowns because they punished anybody that broke
the rules, and Pakistan has now decided to adopt the same strategy at least as far as basic SOPs go,
maybe we will some sort of sanity in the near future. The way the virus is spreading at the moment,
which will soon overwhelm hospitals, is not sustainable. The government must now make sure that the
PM’s instructions are followed very seriously and people obey all the rules. Otherwise strict
punishments should be awarded, especially to senior government ministers, if they continue to behave
like nothing has happened. We must find our way out of the top 10 immediately and then continue on
the road to progress.
The government must now make sure that the PM’s instructions are followed very seriously and
people obey all the rules. Otherwise strict punishments should be awarded, especially to senior
government ministers, if they continue to behave like nothing has happened.
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