THE coronavirus pandemic that has now spread to 197 countries is a problem of proportions the world has never seen before. Experts fear it will last longer than thought as no one has come up with a cure for this malady so far.

Even the West’s strongest economies with the best healthcare systems have failed in coping with this challenge. Consequently, these nations are following the Chinese model. At the same time economic repercussions of lockdowns all over the globe will bring poverty to hundreds of millions of people.

In Pakistan, the federal and provincial governments’ measures are encouraging, but more needs to be done. To halt the spiraling effects of the deadly novel corona, the safety measures taken by the government should be further tightened. The lockdowns and partial lockdowns should be strict. Section 144 should be imposed to discourage people gathering. A continuous public awareness campaign by media should be started. There should be strict surveillance and scanning of the public using motorways and highways. All people at entry/exit points in government domains be checked for fever and flu.

In these testing times, we need to make our nerves stronger with stronger conviction that only Allah the Almighty will relieve the whole humanity from this curse.

Rehmat Yousafzai

Swabi

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2020