Sindh government’s battle plan against COVID19

The novel coronavirus has claimed lives of almost 55 people across Pakistan and has affected more than 4,000 cases. The federal and provincial governments are taking stern measures to curb the outbreak of coronavirus.  

While the reluctant Prime Minister Imran Khan is not in favour of complete lockdown, the provincial governments and other territories enforced lockdown as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of their citizens.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah becomes the first leader to enforced lockdown in his respected province. The actions taken by the CM Sindh against the coronavirus gained prominence. The Government of Sindh wants to maintain this status. However, the lockdown has created problems, especially for daily earners and poor people. Let’s take an in-depth review of the Pakistan Peoples’ Party steps against coronavirus.

Corruption charges against PPP

Pakistan Peoples’ Party has been ruling Sindh continually for the past 12 years. The party has faced serious cases of corruption. The Sindh government has been accused of corruption in Benami accounts, power sector in development works. The Sindh government has also been accused of releasing the Health Department’s allocated funds to hospitals that did not actually exist. These hospitals are known as ghost hospitals.

The 2008–2013 PPP-led coalition government is criticised as being the most corrupt in the country’s history. The free and powerful local media in Pakistan exposed various cases of corruption during the government’s tenure including cases of bribery and corruption in government-owned enterprises like Pakistan International Airlines and Pakistan Railways.

Named after the infamy

Since coronavirus cases emerged in Sindh, CM Murad Ali Shah has fast-forwarded his efforts in order to halt the spread of the deadly virus. He gained fame from all over the world which benefited his party a lot. CM Murad Ali Shah announced an Rs3-billion fund for coronavirus affectees, saying that various officials of the Sindh government and PPP MPAs will donate their salaries to it.

The Sindh government has also launched a mobile service to provide ration to the needy people affected by the coronavirus pandemic. As per details, the Sindh government will generate a number for this cause which would be sent to everyone via SMS. The needy people can text the number for ration.

Problems amid lockdown

The coronavirus lockdown had dealt a massive blow to Pakistan’s trembling economy just when it was starting to gather peace. The stock market has plummeted in recent weeks and the economy is on the brink of a recession. Lockdowns are causing havoc in the homes of millions of people in Pakistan.

Almost 25 percent of Pakistan’s population lives under the poverty line. Traders and businessmen are facing severe financial loss due to the lockdown in Karachi. Several reports of food shortage are emerging across Pakistan. The employees of compulsory services are also facing problems because of the closure of mechanics.  

What to Do?

In this tough situation, Sindh government should review all the measures in order to help the poor people amid lockdown. The Sindh government was supposed to bring together all the NGOs and welfare institution and create a platform and assign them responsibilities in various union committees.  This makes it possible that no single family could receive rations more than once and every union would get rations.

The government should also review its steps to provide ration to the people as many deserving people could not receive rations. Sindh government should also address the rising number of cases with the approach of aggressive testing through which the government can ensure the safety of its citizens.