Asad Umar decry violation of SOPs as Covid-19 positively rate increases by 13.39% in Peshawar

ISLAMABAD: Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar said the COVID-19 positivity ratio in Peshawar city was skyrocketing as people in the country were “committing a collective blunder by recklessly ignoring” all standard operating procedures (SOPs) against coronavirus.

Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar Saturday said the COVID-19 positivity ratio in Peshawar city was skyrocketing as it moved up to 13.39 percent yesterday but the opposition was still.

Peshawar covid positivity ratio 13.39% yesterday. Patients in critical care: 202. Of these 50 on low flow oxygen, 134 on high flow and 18 on ventilators. 14 new critical patients just yesterday. PDM response : we will be safe on the stage so who cares what happens to citizens

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) November 21, 2020

Responding to the stubborn attitude by the opposition’s Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to hold Jalsa in Peshawar on Sunday despite the danger of the spread of COVID-19, the minister said there were over 202 critical COVID-19 patients in the city’s hospitals out of those 50 were on low flow oxygen.

Similarly, 134 patients were on high flow oxygen and 18 on ventilators and on Friday, 14 new critical COVID patients were admitted in the hospitals of Peshawar, he tweeted. But still, PDM thinks “we will be safe on the stage so who cares what happens to citizens”, he added.

Asad Umar said in 2013, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) won four out of four seats in the city 2013, while it won five out of five in 2018.

“Therefore by holding the political Jalsa, the opposition could do nothing but to endanger the health and employment of the local people”, he said adding “Perhaps the opposition wants to revenge from the people of Peshawar”

PDM on Friday vowed to defy the government ban on its public gathering in Peshawar on Sunday, warning the district administration that use of force to stop the protesting citizens could spark street battles.

The representatives of the PDM had while speaking at a joint press conference at Peshawar Press Club announced that rallies across the country will be held as the PDM planned until the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government is removed.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s central information secretary Dr Nafeesa Shah at a separate presser also warned the government against playing with the emotions of the masses, asking the administration to allow the 11-party opposition alliance to hold its Peshawar rally in a ‘peaceful’ manner.