Who is playing politics in the midst of COVID-19 crisis?

KARACHI: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases have surged to 18,114 in Pakistan, while the death toll stands at 417.

The pandemic has affected various sectors of the economy across the country. There is complete uncertainty and no time frame can be provided when this global crisis will be over. 

The whole world is taking steps to deal with coronavirus epidemic, while the political leadership in Pakistan is busy expending energy on blaming instead of protecting  people from the epidemic.

There has been a war of words between the federal and Sindh governments at a time when the whole country is undergoing a pandemic and many people are struggling to even make ends meets for their families.

Sindh government allegations: Sindh government frequently alleged that the federal government was responsible for the spread of the novel COVID-19 in the country, criticising Prime Minister Imran Khan for his doublespeak on imposing a lockdown in the country.

Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had demanded that Prime Minister Imran Khan should resign and go home if he doesn’t want to work, so let someone else work in his place to counter the alarming spread of the COVID-19 in the country.

He said that the federal government didn’t give a single penny to the Sindh government to enhance its testing, healthcare capacity, and to support its relief steps for the needy people hit hard due to the lockdown.

PTI response: PTI leaders slammed PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari shortly after the latter criticized federal government for its steps to the COVID-19 epidemic and asking PM Imran to step down. 

The PTI leaders lashed out at Sindh government too, saying that the PPP allegations were admission of his failure to manage the COVID-19 situation in province.

They urged the PPP to provide relief to labourers and workers across the province instead of lashing out at the federal government.

The PTI leaders said relief packages announced by the federal government were for the whole country rather than any specific province or area. They added that the deserving families from across the country, including Sindh, were getting an amount of Rs 12,000 each transparently under the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme.

Commenting on the Sindh government’s steps regarding coronavirus, they said that the PPP’s government in Sindh had failed to effectively implement its lockdown decision as people could be witnessed roaming in streets freely.

The nation is faced with an unprecedented challenge of COVID-19 and a collective response is required to deal with the situation. The outbreak is a national problem and the public will not forgive those who are trying to play politics in the midst of crisis.

It is the need of the hour that the center and provinces should on same page to fight against the epidemic despite wasting time for political point scoring on COVID-19 epidemic.